By Maria Maalouf
The accelerating pace of climate change worldwide has elevated the issues of food and water security to international concerns, transcending national borders. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to addressing critical global issues, the UAE has prioritized human well-being on Earth, with a particular focus on food and water security.
This commitment led to the launch of the UAE’s National Food Security Strategy, aimed at developing a comprehensive Emirati national system based on sustainable food production. This involves employing modern technologies, boosting local production, and fostering international partnerships to diversify food sources.
The strategy has bolstered the UAE’s standing in global food security indices, transforming it into an innovation-driven food security hub. The UAE aims to be the world leader in the Global Food Security Index by 2051.
This vision was reiterated by Dr. Amina Abdullah Al-Dhahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, during the 38th General Assembly of the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development, highlighting the UAE’s comprehensive strategy to enhance national food security by transforming its food systems and entire food value chain into climate-smart sustainable systems to address climate change and challenges related to water scarcity and limited arable land.
In this context, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, announced the launch of the “Food and Water Security Development Complex” (AGWA). Experts consider AGWA an integrated economic complex in Abu Dhabi, aiming to strengthen global efforts to ensure food and water security, thereby creating innovative solutions to global food and water scarcity challenges.
Initiated by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, AGWA will serve as a global center for developing innovative food products based on modern technologies that ensure the provision of potable water and improve its usage. AGWA aims to meet the increasing global demand for food and water, reduce pressure on traditional agricultural systems, and cater to the global demand for modern dietary patterns, leveraging technological advancements to support global food security.
Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan emphasized AGWA’s importance in enhancing the national food and water security system by adopting the latest smart technologies and technological innovations to develop sustainable local production and support efforts to find innovative solutions to the growing demand for vital food sources and water resources both regionally and internationally.
AGWA will support entities involved in the food and water industry by utilizing the latest innovations in alternative proteins, algae, and reverse osmosis technologies for water desalination, thereby enhancing traditional food and water production and supply. The initiative seeks to capitalize on the growth of the global food and water industry, which is expected to reach a market size of 77.4 trillion dirhams by 2045. AGWA is projected to contribute about 90 billion dirhams to Abu Dhabi’s GDP by 2045 and create over 60,000 new jobs, while attracting investments worth up to 128 billion dirhams.
AGWA, according to its founding vision, will be a cornerstone in addressing food and water security challenges, solidifying the UAE’s role as a leading and central state in finding solutions to global humanitarian issues, not only on political and economic fronts but also in food and water security on a global scale.