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10/16/24, 11:39 AM H.E. Abdullah Bin Touq Al Marri Opens Future Food Forum 2024, Says Food Security Is National Priority With Aim To Reduce Fo…

H.E. Abdullah Bin Touq Al Marri Opens Future Food Forum 2024, Says Food Security Is National Priority
With Aim To Reduce Food Imports To 50% By 2050

Thursday, October 3, 2024
The sixth edition of Future Food Forum 2024 was opened today by His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy,
underlining the UAE's pivotal role in the regional food sector and the Food Cluster Strategy in enhancing food security and
sustainability through public-private collaboration.
The two-day event is organised by UAE Food & Beverage Business Group F&B Business Group (F&B Group) under the patronage of
the UAE Ministry of Economy, focusing on the theme "Future Consumer, Future Government, and Future Food" in strategic partnership
with the Dubai Chamber and features FoodTech Valley as an organising partner. Hosted at the Le Meridien Airport Hotel in Dubai, the
event is also supported by the Abu Dhabi Food Hub and DP World. Future Food Forum has evolved into a platform driving policy and
sector leadership in the UAE's economy through innovation, sustainability, and emerging technology.
In his inaugural address, H.E. Al Marri emphasised the significance of the UAE's Food Cluster Strategy, which was launched at last
year's Forum. He said, "We have worked closely with the F&B Group and industry leaders to advance the clustering process. With more
than 15 working sessions and 300 participants, over 20 actionable initiatives are currently in design, which include Made in the UAE
Food, Agri-Science Universities, Ecosystem Data Sharing platforms, Value Chain Finance Programs, and Food Fraud and Shield
Programs."
He reaffirmed that these initiatives aim to increase the food sector's contribution to the UAE's GDP by US$10 billion and create 20,000
jobs by 2030, and said, "The UAE's commitment to food security is evident from the fact that UAE has placed food security as a
national priority, since the 2007 global food crisis. We are proud of our progress in domestic food production, with the aim of reducing
food imports from 90% to 50% by mid-century,"

He further outlined the key pillars of the UAE's food security, which is anchored in fostering innovation through world-class R&D and
nurturing future food disruptors who will grow into global champions, as well as embedding sustainable practices across the food
production value chain to ensure the protection of our environment for future generations.

H.E. Al Marri highlighted the growth potential of the GCC food and beverage sector, which is expected to hit US$128 billion by 2029,
and urged the industry to harness this momentum to drive the UAE's cluster strategy further. "In line with the UAE Food & Agricultural
Transformation Strategy, we are well on track to increase food sector contribution to the GDP by US$10 billion and create more than
20,000 jobs. This growth should not remain a statistic—it represents livelihoods, opportunities, and a sustainable future for our country.
Together, we can innovate for a sustainable tomorrow and ensure that the UAE remains a global leader in food security," he concluded.
Food Cluster Strategy in Action: Building the Future of Food in the UAE

A high-level ministerial discussion on the Food Cluster strategy saw vital ministries, including the Ministry of Industry and Advanced
Technology, Ministry of Economy, and Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, convening to explore policy reforms,
collaboration, and investment in the sector. The strategy emphasises the inclusion of a diverse range of stakeholders, including
government authorities, industry leaders, universities, and research institutions. One of the central goals is to foster knowledge transfer,
maximise the contributions of all players, and address industry challenges through innovative ideas and research and development
(R&D).

The meeting focused on ongoing initiatives aimed at driving collaboration and innovation in the food sector. A key outcome was the
proposed governing board for the food cluster to enable the effective execution of the food cluster strategy. This board will monitor the
implementation of strategic initiatives, align the goals of the industry with national economic priorities, and play a critical role in
integrating scientific research and innovation into the industry, ensuring that stakeholders are continuously engaged in developing new
approaches. It emphasised the importance of creating a self-driven initiative led by the industry, with government facilitation, to ensure
its long-term success and scalability.
Opening the meeting, H.E. Abdullah Ahmad Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy, said, "The idea behind creating the
clusters is to enable dialogues between all the stakeholders, including universities, scientists, research institutions and ministries, to
ensure food security in the future. As an import-heavy country, we know that there are a number of things that we, as a key sector, can
do to enhance food security and supply chain, increase export, protect our market and practical policies. These topics should be openly
discussed between the stakeholders."

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