[ad_1]
- Opening remarks by Her Excellency Abdulla Al Saleh, Deputy Minister of Economy, UAE
- Over 700 industry leaders participated in a two-day forum highlighting key initiatives for sustainable and inclusive growth, creating opportunities for women and promoting youth entrepreneurship in the restaurant industry
DUBAI, UAE: The third edition of the Future of Food Forum kicked off today at the Grand Hyatt Dubai to discuss key initiatives the food and beverage industry is taking to ensure future sustainability and food safety. The event, organised and hosted by the UAE Food and Beverage Manufacturers Business Group in strategic partnership with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Food Tech Valley, saw key government officials and business leaders discuss strategies to transform the future of food and beverage manufacturing in the UAE.
HE Abdulla Al Saleh, Deputy Minister of Economy, UAE Submitted opening address Emphasized the need for the UAE to improve local food production and technology adoption in the sector. He said the UAE is the world’s second largest agricultural and processed food re-export market after the United States and plays a vital role in maintaining the supply of food and agricultural products in the region. Home to many ethnic groups, the country has a large number of supermarkets and retail chains offering a wide range of food and beverage items.
“This forum comes at an opportune time for the entire industry to discuss reshaping supply chains. The UAE has always believed in the importance of trade in enhancing the sustainability, growth and resilience of the global economy. The main focus of our strategy must be to promote local investment in production, building resilient logistics networks, reducing food waste and promoting technological integration in food production,” he said.
He added: “To achieve our food security goals, the UAE has adopted the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) model. Under this scheme, the UAE has so far concluded three CEPAs with India, Indonesia and Israel, and is working with several others. countries to negotiate. Target market. However, timely stakeholder engagement is also essential to ensure the best interests of all and to ensure the overall success of this effort. The transformation of technical knowledge and the capacity of the local SME sector must also be emphasized Building. I believe, “These concerted efforts will make the UAE more resilient by protecting the country from supply chain disruptions and global crises. In addition, the shift to local and regional supply chains will also reduce environmental impact by reducing transit times. “
Welcome delegates, Saleh Lootah, Chairman of the UAE Catering Manufacturers Group, Said: “We are proud to host the third edition of the Future of Food Forum, which puts the spotlight on the fast-growing food and beverage manufacturing industry. We have learned a lot from the challenges of the pandemic and climate change that have disrupted the food chain in recent years. Today we know that food and beverage The key to industry progress lies in collaboration between the restaurant industry, regulators and academia. Through the Future of Food Forum, we aim to provide insights on the value of innovation, sustainability and digital, knowledge sharing and collaborative platforms to transform the restaurant industry And pave the way for a sustainable future.”
Jack McCluskey, Marketing Manager at FoodTech Valley, said: “Global food manufacturers and agricultural producers are facing increasing demand pressures, forcing them to shift their focus from capacity to greater efficiency and self-sufficiency in the UAE. The UAE is undergoing a profound transformation with new policies introduced in response to population growth and climate change. To increase local production and minimise environmental impact, the UAE is investing in cutting-edge food production technologies such as vertical farming, smart irrigation , aquaponics and, in addition, advanced technologies such as robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) offer new opportunities for the restaurant industry to build self-sufficient and robust food supply chains.”
“The planet’s resources need to be protected and restored, and that requires transformative change. That’s why we’re working with our food system partners to advance regenerative farming practices, including boosting biodiversity, protecting soils, restoring water cycles and integrating livestock. At Nestlé, we have committed to advancing renewable food systems at scale to protect, renew and restore the environment, improve farmers’ livelihoods and enhance the well-being of communities,” said Yasmine Berber, Head of Sustainability Middle East and North Africa at Nestlé.
More than 600 industry leaders participated in the two-day event, which included high-level keynotes, in-depth panel discussions and “Lightning Talk” sessions covering all aspects of the food and beverage manufacturing value chain. Core topics of discussion included the added value of digitization, sustainability considerations, the role of innovation and the need to foster a culture of inclusion to mark industry transformation.
-Finish-
About the Future of Food Forum 2022:
The Future Food Forum 2022 is hosted by the UAE Food and Beverage Manufacturers Business Group; it aims to connect and develop the food and beverage manufacturing industry and leaders and empower industry growth. The forum will discuss how regions, businesses and government agencies face different issues in the food and beverage industry.Additionally, the 2022 Future of Food Forum seeks to be a one-stop platform for learning best practices through interactive panel sessions, CEO roundtables and more
access: https://futurefoodseries.com/
[ad_2]
Source link