The Ministry of Local weather Change and Surroundings (MOCCAE) revealed that the UAE ranked first within the Center East and North Africa (MENA) area on the World Meals Safety Index (GFSI) 2022, issued by Economist Influence, in comparison with the third place within the area for the 12 months 2021. Globally, the UAE reached 23rd place, marking an enchancment of 12 factors on earlier 12 months.
In response to the index, the UAE ranked initially MENA international locations within the general meals safety index and within the meals availability indicator, and second in meals high quality and security.
Her Excellency Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Local weather Change and Surroundings, stated: “Strengthening meals safety is a strategic precedence for the UAE. To attain this goal, now we have adopted an built-in strategy that features the implementation of nationwide methods and the creation of an enabling legislative and regulatory framework.”
The great Nationwide Meals Safety Technique 2051 goals to develop sustainable meals programs through the use of fashionable applied sciences, supporting native manufacturing, constructing worldwide partnerships to diversify meals sources, and enacting legal guidelines and insurance policies that enhance vitamin and scale back meals waste with the goal of guaranteeing meals safety underneath any circumstances. The technique seeks to spice up the UAE’s rating in international meals safety indicators and rework the nation right into a hub for innovation-based meals safety.
Her Excellency added that the efforts to strengthen meals safety embody initiatives, packages, and initiatives that improve native manufacturing capabilities, stimulate funding and entrepreneurship within the meals sector, and promote the adoption of sustainable agricultural strategies.
She burdened that the UAE is working to attain its objective to high the GFSI by 2051.
The Minister famous that guaranteeing the provision of meals and the continuity and adaptability of provide chains is among the major pillars of the technique. She defined that this includes boosting cooperation with different international locations worldwide, diversifying meals import sources, growing international agricultural funding, and monitoring import markets to confirm compliance with the best worldwide meals security requirements.
Globally, the UAE ranked seventh in meals availability, and 16th in meals security and high quality.
The nation scored 75.2 factors on the overall scale of the 100-point index, in comparison with 71 factors recorded in 2021, registering progress by 4.2 factors.
In August 2021, MOCCAE signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Emirates Improvement Financial institution (EDB) to cooperate in figuring out progressive financing options to assist entrepreneurship within the agrifood business based mostly on using fashionable applied sciences and sustainable programs.
Meals commerce is among the most vital and dynamic sectors within the nation that has witnessed a speedy restoration after the COVID-19 pandemic. The each day meals import price now exceeds 41,000 tons, a progress of 21 p.c in comparison with the identical interval of the earlier 12 months.
The annual GFSI information and measures year-on-year adjustments within the structural elements that have an effect on meals safety. The index takes into consideration a number of metrics, together with meals value, availability, high quality, and security, in addition to pure sources and resilience throughout 113 nations. It’s based mostly on 58 indicators that measure the drivers of meals safety in growing and developed international locations.