Dubai to host the first Food For Future Summit in the UAE
The Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC) is the venue for the Food For Future Summit and the Global Agtech Expo. These events will address the problem facing agriculture in the future. It is estimated that by 2050 there will be 10 billion people on Earth and the agricultural sector is not prepared to meet the needs of so many people.
Over 150 speakers and more than 60 world leaders will sit alongside revolutionary companies in the agricultural sector to offer new alternatives. Global food innovators argue that both events "come at the optimal time to galvanise the industry and catalyse a global food security movement".
Attendees will be able to gain an in-depth understanding of Agriculture 4.0, crop technology and aquaculture. Aquaculture is considered the fastest growing sector in the food industry. The aim is to reach 275 billion dollars by 2025.
For its part, the Generation Food stage will be used to host a wide variety of thematic and interactive workshops. All of them related to food for the world's future population. Several experts will offer healthier alternatives on how food is produced and consumed.
Emirati Minister of Climate Change and Environment Mariam Almheiri says they are very proud to host this summit "which brings together like-minded parties from around the world to explore innovative ways to advance the global transition to sustainable food systems".
Achieving a sustainable and secure future can be achieved through collaboration between the public and private sector. Success also requires a major investment in agribusiness. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is committing around $1 billion to the agribusiness sector in the Middle East over the next decade.
Prasad Gopalan, IFC agribusiness and forestry manager, says all investments will be in line with its strategic focus on food security and nutrition. The aim is not only to improve "linkages and efficiency in value chains", but also to make sustainability "a business driver".
The Food for the Future Summit aims to raise awareness of food waste, climate change and its impact on food security. Some companies will be showcasing their cutting-edge ideas, such as Tevel, a company developing autonomous flying robots capable of automated planting and harvesting of fruit.
The founder of Oasis Greens, the country's newest local farm, believes the summit will propel the UAE into an unprecedented agri-tech revolution. Nikita Patel grows fresh, pesticide-free local produce and delivers it to her customers the same day it is harvested.
The United Arab Emirates is highly conscious of sustainability, as evidenced by its Zero Net Emissions 2050 Strategic Initiative, launched last October. This drive has made them the first nation in the Middle East and North Africa to pursue a positive environmental impact.
The rapid growth of some of its cities led to the UAE being ranked as the nation with the largest environmental footprint in the world. Fuel consumption, continuous private jet traffic and the creation of artificial islands have all contributed to the country's emissions.
Dubai hopes to become the world's most sustainable city in the coming years. To this end, it expects all its buildings to have solar panels on their roofs by 2030. Buildings in the United Arab Emirates consume 75% of the electricity produced in the entire territory. Since 2014, new buildings constructed in the city have been required to be 100% green.
It is also creating a powerful public transport system to encourage residents to reduce the use of their vehicles. The Dubai Metro is 74.6 kilometres long and is the longest driverless metro rail network in the world. It also has the first non-European tram service powered by energy supplied by the metro itself.