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The 2022 World Wholesale Markets Union (WUWM) conference, to be held for the first time in October in the Middle East, offers an opportunity to reshape the global food system, according to organizers and attendees.
The meeting will come as the UN General Assembly warns of rising hunger and malnutrition in the world, with factors including the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change and international conflict leading to nearly a billion people going hungry in 2021.
As the world’s largest wholesale market network, WUWM represents the industry’s foremost fresh food supplier. Attendees will include leading fresh food producers, wholesale markets, retailers, fresh food logistics companies, air and ocean freight suppliers, as well as local, national and regional government representatives as well as policy makers and food system experts.
key stakeholders
The theme of the 2022 WUWM Abu Dhabi Conference in Abu Dhabi is “Global Food Security in the Twenty-First Century: Risks, Challenges and Solutions for Ensuring Resilient and Sustainable Fresh Food Supply Chains” and will convene key stakeholder discussions Mechanisms needed to ensure global food supply. It will examine pathways to ensure food systems transition to sustainability, reduce opportunities for food loss, increase the resilience of fresh food supply chains, and promote innovation and digital tools to ensure long-term food security.
Stephane Layani, President of WUWM, said: “WUWM is committed to addressing food insecurity and preventing food crises around the world. This conference will provide an important opportunity to identify risks and anticipate future challenges in maintaining food supplies. Sharing innovations, best practices and new approaches will allow us to mitigate the impact of the current crisis and avoid future disruptions to the food supply chain.”
“We are very proud to bring this event to Abu Dhabi, our first in the Middle East, to recognise the extraordinary steps the region’s leaders and organisations are taking to ensure food security. Industry players are sending out an open invitation to participate so that we can agree on a multi-stakeholder approach to repairing and strengthening the global food system.”
new market entrant
The event is hosted by AD Ports Group, a leading facilitator of global trade, logistics and industry, which plays a central role in building infrastructure and encouraging new market entrants to support food security.
In February 2022, AD Ports Group announced the launch of “Regional Food Hub – Abu Dhabi” in partnership with Ghassan Aboud Group and with Rungis. The hub will cover a total land area of 3.3 million square meters, with a market area, ancillary activity areas, industrial cold storage, logistics, waste management and water treatment facilities.
Abdullah Al Hameli, CEO of AD Ports Group Economic Cities and Free Zones, said: “Hosting the WUWM conference will showcase the key steps we are taking to support national, regional and global food security for the UAE. At the same time, it will provide us with an opportunity to exchange knowledge platform and learn from some of the largest and most innovative fresh food suppliers in the world.”
food security strategy
As part of the National Food Security Strategy, the UAE aims to become the safest country in the Global Food Security Index by 2051, using modern technology and enhancing local production to ensure the sustainable production of fresh food.
Experts at the meeting said that the resource-intensity of food production is a major challenge facing the global food supply chain, and food production requires a lot of water and energy. Shifting to alternative energy sources and reducing water waste are key opportunities for the industry, although this major shift needs to be carefully managed to avoid rising costs that lead to higher food prices.
Other topics at WUWM Abu Dhabi 2022 include food safety, supply chain, digitalisation and the role of food hubs.
WUWM Abu Dhabi 2022 will be held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from 19-20 October 2022. — arab trade news agency
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