Future Food Forum 2024 To Showcase UAE's Transformation In Food Ecosystem And Innovation

The UAE Food & Beverage Business Group, in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Economy and Dubai Chamber, has announced the Future Food Forum 2024. Scheduled for 2nd and 3rd October 2024, this event will bring together industry leaders, government officials, and academics to discuss innovations in food technology and sustainability. The forum aims to enhance the UAE's role in global food innovation.

With the GCC's food and beverage market projected to reach US$128.2 billion by 2029, the sixth edition of the Forum will focus on advancing the UAE’s cluster strategy. This strategy was introduced by Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy, at last year's event. It aims to boost the food sector's GDP contribution by US$10 billion and create 20,000 jobs.

The Future Food Forum has become a crucial platform for policy development in the food sector. It connects government bodies, policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss future agendas. The event is a result of several high-level workshops addressing challenges and opportunities within the food industry.

This year's theme will address topics like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), circular economy practices, sustainability in manufacturing, international trade agreements such as CEPA, digital transformation, governance, and "free from" products. These discussions aim to shape policies that support sustainable growth in the sector.

The Future Food Forum 2024 will introduce "Foodverse," a metaverse-based virtual platform tailored for the food industry. This digital space will transform B2B meetings and product presentations by providing an immersive experience for participants. It represents a significant step forward in networking within the food sector.

Saleh Lootah, Chairman of F&B Group, stated: "Future Food Forum continues to serve as a platform for collaboration in the future of the food industry. This year's edition is even bigger and hosts key stakeholders from the public and private sectors and across the food manufacturing, supply chain and food-tech sectors to build on the seven key pillars announced by the UAE government to increase the food sector's contribution to UAE GDP and increasing Emirati participation in the sector."

Exhibitions and Discussions

The forum will also feature 'Free From Food Dubai,' an exhibition highlighting innovations in organic, vegan, functional foods, and healthy ingredients. This exhibition will run alongside panel discussions that redefine practices within the F&B sector while showcasing government involvement with industry stakeholders.

The event seeks to foster a collaborative ecosystem through cross-sector partnerships while leveraging economies of scale. By doing so, it aims to position the UAE as a leader in sustainable and innovative food solutions globally.

The Future Food Forum continues its mission to drive transformative change within regional food systems by encouraging dialogue among key players from various sectors.

With inputs from WAM