The Finance Minister was speaking at the 5th Future Food Forum held in Dubai. Pointing out that the agriculture sector in the country is getting stronger, he revealed seven important things that have been formulated as part of the new strategy to boost the growing sector.
These include modernization of the local agricultural sector, improving the country’s food-agricultural culture, strengthening the food supply chain, and providing farmers with the support and resources needed to make the country a world leader in agricultural technology and prosperity, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.
Abdullah Al Marri highlighted the UAE’s food and beverages (F&B) sector’s skills development and digital infrastructure initiatives that have transformed food production, distribution and consumption in the Gulf region and globally. He appreciated the efforts made by F&B to attract investments and business opportunities. He also lauded F&B’s excellence in promoting public-private collaboration in food security and creating an environment-friendly environment.
The UAE is making food security a big priority as its population grows. Compared to other countries in the West Asia and North Africa region, the UAE ranks first in the 2022 Global Food Security Index. Even then, challenges for food remain realistically ahead, he noted.
Fostering innovation in agriculture and supporting a new generation of farmers and skilled workers is one of the seven pillars of the UAE’s food-agriculture policy. UAE will formulate and implement plans to become a global controlling force in this field by bringing high quality products to the market and securing international recognition. The country also wants to develop the country’s traditional agricultural culture by prioritizing domestic production and reducing import dependence.