The UAE is set to establish a "silicone valley" of food technology in an effort to meet the country's growing food security needs, officials have said.
Mariam bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Almheiri, Minister of State for Future Food Security, said the issue continued to represent a huge challenge for both the region and the world.
Unstable global markets as well as inflation remain a significant threat to the price of everyday food. But emerging technologies such as vertical farming and hydroponics are helping experts address those concerns, reducing both soaring consumer and environmental costs.
Speaking in a recent radio interview, Ms Hareb Almheiri said the UAE was well aware of the challenges ahead and was taking steps to protect food prices and encourage sustainability.
“We are living in an era of increased pressures on food production stemming from a host of interlocking challenges, including accelerating climate change, dwindling fresh water access and escalating energy demands, ” she said.
“Providing adequate food for the world’s citizens is a global problem and one that is likely to become more pressing in the coming decades. ”
The challenges of ensuring adequate food supply was the subject under discussion at a series of workshops held last month by the UAE Office for Future Food Security.
The sessions examined several potential global scenarios for the year 2050, and analysed how these might affect the provision of sustenance for the region’s growing population.
Given both unstable global supply chains and climate - driven disruption of agricultural production, food and water security have become central strategic challenges.
Ms Hareb Almheiri said plans for a food equivalent of silicone valley in the UAE were currently under review, with the aim of bringing together public and private bodies to boost research and improve existing technology.
“A UAE national plan is being worked on as part of the future food security file that includes advancing research and adopting technologies, ” she said.
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