Breakthrough for farm sustainability in the UAE

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, UAE, has announced the formation of a task force to reinforce the efforts of the National Farm Sustainability Initiative. Chaired by H.E. Eng. Mohammed Mousa Alameeri, Assistant Undersecretary of the Food Diversity Sector at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, and comprised of leaders from various significant food and agriculture firms in the UAE, the task force has an ambitious goal: to increase government purchases of local products to 50% by the end of 2023.

Hussein Al Hussein, Regional Director of Farm to Plate, has been named to the task force along with Peter Nichols, Chief Operating Officer at ADNH Compass Group; Dr Ray Tinston, Market Director of Monbat; Hamed Ahmed Al Hamed, founder of Gracia Agricultural Group, Omar Al Shamsi, CEO of Watermelon Limited and Yazan Al Qudmani, a partner in 3YAgtech agricultural consulting company and Deputy General Manager of Emirates Biological Farm.

In the Year of Sustainability, the task force is set to play a crucial part in enhancing food security in the Emirates by identifying new mechanisms and partnerships that can help connect leading supply companies with local farms. This will open a clear path for increasing the purchase and adoption of national farm products by major food supply companies operating in UAE. Local production levels can be enhanced through guaranteed revenue streams emerging from purchase agreements, increasing the nation's self-sufficiency ratio for food and improving the income levels of Emirati farmers without affecting the food industry.

Farm To Plate represents the pioneering blockchain track and trace platform and the product division of Paramount Software Solutions, an award-winning technology provider headquartered in Georgia, USA. With over 25 years of industry presence and several industry awards, Paramount is a recognized leader in the IT industry in the United States and North America. True to Paramount’s mission of holistic sustainability and technology for the greater good, Farm to Plate embodies inclusive sustainability for people, communities, and the environment. According to Hussein, “This task force will put in place a structured model for improving the adoption of Emirati farm products through the establishment of trading and supply partnerships and by connecting both public and private stakeholders within the food supply chain. As a leading private food technology firm, we have a responsibility to help local governments identify the best means to achieve food safety and sustainability. Our membership in this task force will enable us to provide the Ministry with our expertise in integrating all stakeholders on the food supply chain, and how we can bring technology and process together to achieve the task force’s lofty goals.”

On this occasion, HE Eng Mohammed Alameeri said: "We move forward in the Year of Sustainability armed with a spirit of determination and commitment to building a more sustainable and resilient future for the UAE. The task force to enhance the (National Farm Sustainability Initiative) will play a pivotal role in enhancing food security and will serve as a model for change in adopting sustainable environmental practices."

He added: "The formation of the task force, which includes seasoned experts from various sectors, is an important step towards enhancing the UAE's food security and ensuring the well-being of its society. The task force will work to increase government purchases of local products to 50% by the end of 2023, an ambitious but achievable goal. There is no doubt that the UAE's journey towards sustainability is a shared responsibility. The formation of the task force is tangible evidence of the power of teamwork among the member institutions and our common vision to enhance food security and sustainability in the UAE."

As a leader in the food technology sector in the UAE and the MENA region, Farm To Plate will look to leverage its technological prowess with blockchain and AI as well as its experience working with all tiers of the supply chain – from producers facing technology barriers to consumer transparency challenges – to help the task force identify the best partners and the right process models for increasing local product purchasing and self-sustainability.

Actively working on enhancing the National Farms Sustainability Initiative, the task force enjoys the support of ten government agencies: the Government of Ajman, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Interior, Emirates Health Services (EHS), Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority, Abu Dhabi Health Department, Sharjah Agriculture and Animal Wealth Department, Dubai Police General Command, Abu Dhabi Police General Command, and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). In the next few months, the task force will look towards finding new partnership opportunities to enhance purchases of UAE-based farm produce by various industry stakeholders. The task force will periodically inform the public about its progress, strategies.