The World Food Security Summit is set to be hosted in Abu Dhabi, UAE for the first time on November 26-27, 2024. The event will take place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) as part of the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Security Week (ADAFSW).
Objectives and participants
The summit will be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who serves as the Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the Presidential Court, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA).
Moreover, organized by the ADNEC Group in partnership with ADAFSA and the F&B Manufacturing Group (FBMG) as a knowledge partner, the summit aims to encourage dialogue and practical steps towards building a sustainable global food system and eradicating hunger worldwide.
The event further seeks to attract a range of experts and decision-makers to discuss innovative solutions for strengthening the global food security system. This will support international efforts to eliminate hunger and enhance the UAE’s position as a platform for managing dialogues, discussions, and initiatives in global food security.
UAE’s role in food security
Saeed Al Bahri Salem Al Ameri, director-general of ADAFSA, highlighted that food security is a major global challenge requiring the combined efforts and cooperation of all stakeholders to find innovative solutions. He also noted that the UAE and Abu Dhabi have played a pioneering role in promoting sustainable food systems, inspired by the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and guided by the vision of the UAE’s leadership.
Bringing stakeholders together
The summit will bring together a distinguished group of global food security experts, officials from both public and private sectors, and civil society leaders to discuss ways of strengthening food security. In addition, the event aims to engage stakeholders worldwide, particularly from developing countries, as well as women and youth representatives, to share experiences, knowledge, and ideas.
Advancing food security sector
Also, Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, managing director and group CEO of ADNEC Group, stated that organizing the summit aligns with ADNEC’s strategy to support national endeavors in advancing the food security sector. The summit’s strategic importance is amplified by its timing alongside the Abu Dhabi International Food Exhibition (ADIFE) and the Abu Dhabi Date Palm Exhibition (ADDPE), both of which are organized by ADNEC Group.
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Several themes and discussion sessions
Saleh Lootah, chairman of FBMG, expressed his pride in the strategic partnership with ADAFSA and ADNEC to organize the inaugural Global Food Security Summit. He noted that the event will include several themes and discussion sessions that will attract a select group of government officials, decision-makers, experts, and specialists from around the world to discuss the prominent challenges facing the sector.
Furthermore, ahead of the summit, ADAFSA will organize a series of events and initiatives within the UAE to encourage participation from government, private sectors, civil society organizations, and various community groups.
The National Food Security Strategy 2051 aims to make the UAE the global leader in the Global Food Security Index (GFSI) by 2051. This will be achieved through the development of a comprehensive national system based on enabling sustainable food production using advanced technologies, enhancing local production, and global partnerships to diversify food sources.
Addressing global challenges of food scarcity
Additionally, the recently launched AgriFood Growth and Water Abundance (AGWA) complex in Abu Dhabi acts as a comprehensive economic hub that reinforces global efforts aimed at ensuring food and water security while addressing the global challenges of food scarcity and water shortages. Moreover, the complex is projected to contribute approximately AED90 billion to Abu Dhabi’s GDP and attract investments of up to AED128 billion by 2045.
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