DUBAI, 24th February, 2022 (WAM) — Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, joined ministerial delegations, leading executives from non-profit organizations, and prominent industry thought leaders from across the food value chain at the Global Leaders’ Symposium during the Food For Future Summit & Expo 2022.
The Summit is intended to be the ultimate platform for dialogue that aims to drive positive change in regional, global and global food systems and explore new solutions to global food security problems. The inaugural edition of the event is being hosted by the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the SDG 2 Advocacy Hub. It will take place at Expo 2020 Dubai from February 23-24.
Day one of the gathering, titled Roadmaps and Global Food Alliances, featured a strong lineup of speakers from around the globe. Paul Newnham was Director of the SDG2 Advocacy Hub. Abdulhakim Elwaer was Assistant Director-General at FAO. Martien Van Nieuwkoop was Global Director for Agriculture and Food at World Bank Group. Dr Agnes Kalibata, President, AGRA, Dr Gunhild Stordalen (Founder and Executive Chair) of EAT Foundation and Enock Chukava, Interim Director, Agricultural Development, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The audience was also addressed by several ministerial representatives from countries across the globe, including the Bahamas and Ukraine.
In her keynote speech at the Summit’s opening session, Mariam Almheiri said: “Food systems contribute over one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions, while climate change is disrupting food supply, food availability, livelihoods, and human health. These problems will get worse if we do not act. These interrelated challenges require that we think about how to guide actions to sustainably grow food production, adapt and strengthen resilience to climate changes, and explore ways of decarbonizing the global food system.
Food for Life was launched by her in the second hour. This bold, first-of its-kind community engagement campaign addresses the nexus health, nutrition and planet well-being. MOCCAE is the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention. Emirates Nature-WWF and FAO are involved in the initiative.
The Minister said: “We want our people to connect with food – understand where our food comes from, and eat and live mindfully. We want their diets safe, varied, balanced, and based upon nutritious foods. We want them to choose local food whenever possible to reduce their carbon footprint. Because small changes made by many people can have a big impact. Improved diets are one of the best things we can do for our health and our environment.
After the launch, she accompanied VIP guests on a tour of the farmers market, set up at the venue, where they got to sample the best of the UAE’s fresh homegrown produce and other locally made food products.
On day two of the Summit, the minister participated in a high-level ministerial event themed ‘Food Systems Transformation in Action: The Committee on World Food Security (CFS) Voluntary Guidelines on Food Systems and Nutrition (VGFSN)’. The UAE Government hosted the event, in collaboration with CFS. This event was part the MENA Agri-Food Innovation Days. It aimed to advance agrifood systems reform in the MENA region. The CFS VGFSN is a concrete tool that provides guidance for governments, UN agencies, civil society, private sector, financial institutions, and other development actors on policies and interventions to address malnutrition in all its forms through a holistic ‘food systems’ perspective.
Highlighting the magnitude of the challenge facing global food systems, she said: “Despite the global community’s drive to meet Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 and ensure zero hunger by 2030, we cannot but feel we are not moving fast enough. The world is now on a path towards obesity and malnutrition because it cannot provide enough, safe, nutritious, and affordable food. Our current food systems have a negative impact on our health and are putting enormous pressure on our environment. They also contribute significantly to climate change.
She pointed out that the UAE has used climate-smart agriculture methods, leveraging innovation and building partnerships to overcome these challenges. The UAE’s efforts to promote the right food choices for its community align perfectly with the CFS VGFSN, which the country is proud to support. The Guidelines are a set of guidelines that help countries integrate nutrition into national food security plans and climate plans. They bring together all relevant sectors to create sustainable food systems.
