Abu Dhabi-UAE: 13 December 2017 –  The Food Security Center - Abu Dhabi (FSCAD) hosted the first of two Food Security Roundtables on the opening day of the eighth edition of SIAL Middle East 2017. Entitled ‘Regional Developments and its Impact on Food Security at the Region Countries’, the roundtable shed light on the most important obstacles that prevent the operation of supply chains of food commodities across the region, as well as the environmental, economic and social impact of these challenges. 

 

Attended by Her Excellency Mariam Saeed Hareb Al Muhairi, the UAE Minister of State for Food Security, the 90-minute session presented solutions in helping to overcome these difficulties and discussed the importance of response plans and their activation mechanism. In addition, the session touched on the sustainability of food supply chains in light of the prevailing socio-political scenario in the region, lessons learned from neighbouring countries, the strategic food security policies of the region, as well as the variability of food prices and tariffs and their impact on regional volatility. 

 

The attendees gained crucial insights from an expert-led five-member panel moderated by His Excellency Khalifa Al Ali, Managing Director of FSCAD. Other panelists included His Excellency Khadim Abdulla AlDarei, Co-founder and Vice Chairman of Al Dahra Holding, His Excellency Mohamed Rashed Al Otaiba, Chairman and Managing Director of Jenaan Investment, His Excellency Fahad Obaid Al Taffaq, Director of Economic Affairs and International Cooperation at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Dr Saif AlDhaheri, Director of Safety and Prevention Department at the Supreme Council for National Security National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA). 

 

The panelists discussed the importance of innovation in securing the food supply chain, the UAE’s achievements in logistics due to its enhanced infrastructure and transportation, as well as the criticality of private-public partnerships in bolstering food security and storage. Furthermore, the session lauded the UAE’s strategic alliances with multiple countries that enabled it to safeguard its future food supply as well as its national priorities. 

 

His Excellency Khalifa Al Ali, Managing Director of FSCAD, said: 'The wise leadership of the UAE has taken unprecedented steps in completely securing our food supply and storage. Today’s session is an example of how all types of entities – holding companies, ministries, authorities, manufacturing companies and more importantly, the private and government sector, have joined forces to ensure the sustainability of food reserves in the UAE.”

 

He added: “Since its inception, the UAE has never witnessed any shortages in feeding its population. Not only that, the country has become a hub for the import and re-export of food to war ravaged countries and disaster zones. Our logistical mechanisms and infrastructure have underpinned the UAE’s food security preparedness in the face of geopolitical variability and natural disasters. Notably, the UAE today holds a food supply value chain that will stand us in good stead for numerous years.” 

 

Running from December 12 to 14, SIAL Middle East 2017 is anticipated to draw the participation of more than 22,000 experts and over 900 exhibitors from food security focused entities. The Food Security Center – Abu Dhabi was established in 2010 as a body dedicated to enhance food security as well as oversee the implementation of a unified food security strategy in the UAE. FSCAD seeks to enable all citizens and residents of the UAE with access to healthy, nutritious and safe food, in all circumstances, including during crises and emergency situations.