Plugging the gaps in the Arab world’s food needs

The Fujairah Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted a conference last week to discuss the fresh dimensions on food security and issues related to the social, health and security aspects. Arab countries are known to import more than 80 per cent of their food needs and for being the world’s biggest wheat importer. Also, it is a fact that their strategic food reserves cannot meet the needs of more than three months.

However, what was new this time is that there are many scientific and technical developments that can contribute significantly to boosting the agricultural sector and animal resources that could provide for greater productivity and help develop many food commodities that would not have been possible earlier under extreme weather conditions.

Hydroponics for instance is one of the modern techniques that can help upgrade the Arab food security. This technique has proved itself in benefiting a lot of countries meeting their agricultural needs and represents a practical solution to make optimal use of the vast areas in the Arab countries. This way it is possible to cultivate a lot of salinised lands.

The scarcity of water resources in Arab countries was also taken into consideration. The new inventions have provided huge potential to develop agriculture by using as little water as possible and reducing leakages and increase productivity.

Moreover, by developing a “Vertical Farming System”, similar to apartment building styles, would generate enormous potential. It becomes possible to erect soil-free, artificial layers that have prolific production capabilities to meet agricultural needs. The Oasis Tower in Dubai is the best example of this.

Water resources

The techniques discussed at the conference have changed traditional views towards agriculture and reduced differences between countries that have water resources and farmlands and those who do not. This gives opportunities to develop agricultural products through such techniques and this is what is already happening. We can notice the growth in agricultural productivity and of dairy products in the Gulf States, which was not so traditionally.

Furthermore, the availability of water resources and grazing and farming lands in countries like Egypt and Sudan provides opportunities to develop the sector and animal resources in Arab countries that didn’t utilise them. This would reduce the gap between their food needs and high imports to support Arab food security.

However, there are still challenges facing the entire world such as overpopulation and the use of harmful pesticides to increase productivity and meet food needs.

Alternative techniques

Currently, western Europeans are campaigning against the use of pesticides and return to organic farming through developing alternative techniques for pesticides and hormones. In fact, this is a real change that some working papers have already suggested it is practical. Scientific perceptions are changing too, bearing in mind that there are differences between developed countries in solving this complicated problem. European views, for example, are different from those in the US and China.

The conference also recommended taking effective decisions that would further help reduce the Arab food gap. Such conferences adds credit to the organisers, particularly the Fujairah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which is unique in hosting such forums on development aspects.

Dr Mohammad Al Asoomi is a UAE economic expert and specialist in economic and social development in the UAE and the GCC countries.