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10/14/24, 9:51 AM H.E. Abdullah Bin Touq Al Marri Opens Future Food Forum 2024 | UAE News 24/7
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

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