Abdullah Bin Touq Al Marri addresses the Future Food Forum 2024 in Dubai on Wednesday.

Sajjad Ahmad, Deputy Business Editor

Food security is a national priority of the UAE with an aim to reduce food imports to 50% by 2050. Various initiatives are in progress to increase food sector’s contribution to the UAE’s GDP by $10 billion and create 20,000 jobs by 2030, said Abdullah Bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy.

Speaking at the sixth edition of Future Food Forum 2024 on Wednesday, Al Marri underlined the UAE’s pivotal role in the regional food sector and the Food Cluster Strategy in enhancing food security and sustainability through public-private collaboration.

The two-day event is organised by UAE Food & Beverage Business Group F&B Business Group (F&B Group) under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Economy, focusing on the theme “Future Consumer, Future Government, and Future Food” in strategic partnership with the Dubai Chamber and features FoodTech Valley as an organising partner.

The event is also supported by the Abu Dhabi Food Hub and DP World. Future Food Forum has evolved into a platform driving policy and sector leadership in the UAE’s economy through innovation, sustainability, and emerging technology.

In his inaugural address,  Al Marri emphasised the significance of the UAE’s Food Cluster Strategy, which was launched at last year’s Forum. He said, “We have worked closely with the F&B Group and industry leaders to advance the clustering process. With more than 15 working sessions and 300 participants, over 20 actionable initiatives are currently in design, which include Made in the UAE Food, Agri-Science Universities, Ecosystem Data Sharing platforms, Value Chain Finance Programs, and Food Fraud and Shield Programs.”

“The UAE’s commitment to food security is evident from the fact that UAE has placed food security as a national priority, since the 2007 global food crisis. We are proud of our progress in domestic food production, with the aim of reducing food imports from 90% to 50% by mid-century,”

He further outlined the key pillars of the UAE’s food security, which is anchored in fostering innovation through world-class R&D and nurturing future food disruptors who will grow into global champions, as well as embedding sustainable practices across the food production value chain to ensure the protection of our environment for future generations.

Al Marri highlighted the growth potential of the GCC food and beverage sector, which is expected to hit $128 billion by 2029, and urged the industry to harness this momentum to drive the UAE’s cluster strategy further. “In line with the UAE Food & Agricultural Transformation Strategy, we are well on track to increase food sector contribution to the GDP by $10 billion and create more than 20,000 jobs. This growth should not remain a statistic—it represents livelihoods, opportunities, and a sustainable future for our country,” he concluded.

Food Cluster Strategy in Action: A high-level ministerial discussion on the Food Cluster strategy saw vital ministries, including the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, Ministry of Economy, and Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, convening to explore policy reforms, collaboration, and investment in the sector. The strategy emphasises the inclusion of a diverse range of stakeholders, including government authorities, industry leaders, universities, and research institutions. One of the central goals is to foster knowledge and address industry challenges through innovative ideas and research and development (R&D).

Opening the meeting, Abdullah Ahmad Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy, said, “The idea behind creating the clusters is to enable dialogues between all the stakeholders, including universities, scientists, research institutions and ministries, to ensure food security in the future. As an import-heavy country, we know that there are a number of things that we, as a key sector, can do to enhance food security and supply chain, increase export, protect our market and practical policies.”

The meeting also reviewed key trends and highlighted the F&B sector’s strong performance and future potential. In the previous year, the UAE saw a total volume of food imports amounting to $23 billion, while food exports reached $6.6 billion. During the first half of the year, the sector experienced a 20% growth in total trade. Food imports increased by 23%, and exports saw a 19% rise, showcasing the UAE’s commitment to bolstering its food security and expanding its role in the global food trade industry.

UAE Foodverse Launches: One of the key announcements as F&B Group Chairman Saleh Abdullah Lootah opened the event was the launch of the UAE Foodverse by the F&B Group. This innovative virtual platform aims to transform the nation’s food ecosystem by offering real-time data, fostering collaborations, and creating partnerships within the industry.

“UAE Foodverse is a revolutionary metaverse platform designed to connect the global F&B industry virtually. As part of the UAE’s Food Cluster Strategy, the Foodverse will foster collaboration, innovation, and trade within a virtual environment,” said Saleh Lootah.