The 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP16), held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, brought together world leaders, experts, and stakeholders to address the urgent challenges of climate change. This year’s conference focused on fostering sustainable development, enhancing food security, and building resilience in the face of environmental challenges.
On December 5th, 2024, Yazen Al Kodmani, Managing Partner at 3Y Agriculture Research and Consultancy, presented at the UAE Pavilion. His session, "Innovating for the Future of Food Security," addressed the pressing challenges of ensuring food security in arid climates like the UAE and outlined transformative solutions for the future.
Tackling Food Security in the UAE
With 80% of food imported, the UAE faces a critical need to strengthen its food security. The challenges span across three key areas of the agricultural value chain:
1. Production: Water scarcity, lack of fertile soil, high input costs, and energy-intensive farming systems make local food production challenging.
2. Supply Chain: Issues like food loss, limited market access, competition from imports, and trade imbalances disrupt efficiency.
3. Consumption: Globalized dietary patterns challenge efforts to promote sustainable, locally produced food.
The Path to Innovation
At COP16, three essential pathways to innovation were highlighted:
Sourcing: Identifying and sourcing innovators who are creating fit-for-purpose solutions tailored to arid climate challenges.
Access: Providing innovators with mentorship, technological resources, and collaborative opportunities with ecosystem partners.
Scaling Up: Establishing a robust support system for innovation and scalability, ensuring successful initiatives are expanded to drive broad, long-term impact.
Food Innovation Hub UAE
During the session, the Food Innovation Hub UAE was introduced as a pivotal initiative aimed at transforming food systems. The Hub is an initiative under the partnership between Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives and the World Economic Forum.
The Food Innovation Hub UAE is dedicated to fostering sustainable practices, empowering innovators, and addressing global food challenges.
The Hub focuses on three key pillars:
Production: Accelerating systems tailored for arid climates.
Supply Chain: Enhancing circularity and intergrity .
Consumption: Encouraging sustainable local and nutritious dietary habits.
This ecosystem fosters collaboration among stakeholders, leveraging technology, research, and policy to address the UAE’s unique food security challenges.
A Vision for Resilient Food Systems
The vision presented at COP16 aligns closely with 3Y’s mission to provide innovative, practical solutions for sustainable agriculture. By addressing challenges across the value chain, the UAE is poised to lead in transforming food systems for arid regions.
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