Agricultural Development and Food Security in the UAE

During my visit to the United Arab Emirates to attend the annual agriculture exhibition in Dubai, I had the opportunity to attend a lecture at the Development Center on Sheikh Zayed Road on October 9, 2024. The lecture was delivered by Her Excellency Mariam Mohammed Al Muhairi, Minister of Food Security, who is the lead official for food and water security (I highly recommend her lectures). The lecture focused on agricultural development and food security. Among the most significant achievements was the establishment of a Food Security Alliance and Office comprising 14 national companies, which developed a plan including more than 38 initiatives and food security programs. Additionally, the UAE Food Security Council was established, bringing together all entities with a role in the field of food security. The Food Security Office has launched numerous initiatives to enhance agricultural techniques in the UAE. Additionally, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid’s initiative for agricultural development in the UAE was highlighted; this initiative involves establishing the National Agricultural Center to provide advisory services, training, and funding for innovative projects, with the goal of afforestation, greening, and revitalizing the UAE’s land through agriculture. The National Program will serve as a driving force aimed at spreading a culture of agriculture in every school and home for future generations. At a glance, the UAE has 33,000 farms, of which 2,600 are productive, and there are 78 organic farms, constituting 1.38% of agricultural land. Agriculture currently meets only 20% of the local market’s needs, and the goal is to increase production by 20% and focus on smart farms by increasing them by 30%, increasing organic farms by 25%, and reducing waste in agricultural production by 50%. The goal is also to increase the use of local produce in local markets and hotels by 25%, with the main objective being an 85% increase to achieve quality certification. The "Grow the Emirates" program supports the UAE’s drive toward agricultural development and the achievement of sustainable national food security. It aims to encourage the local community to engage in self-sufficient vegetable production of key agricultural products, expand cultivated land, support environmental conservation efforts, and establish a positive image of local products with high nutritional value. The program also supports the Year of Sustainability 2024 and strengthens the sustainability framework by highlighting the effective contribution of local products in reducing the carbon footprint of fresh produce. The project aims to provide grants and financing programs to support innovative projects, boost productivity and quality, improve the supply chain, reduce agricultural production costs, minimize agricultural product losses, and enhance the marketing of local products and other value-added projects. The main goal for the next five years is to increase the number of farms by 20% and to increase organic farms in the country by 25%, raise the percentage of farms adopting climate-smart solutions to 30%, reduce waste in agricultural production by 50%, and increase the number of workers in the agricultural sector by 15%. My recommendation is that the State of Kuwait establish a similar National Agricultural Center aimed at regulating agriculture to achieve optimal production and support food security.