Dubai infrastructure provides an integrated agricultural food system

The CEO of DB World, the Gulf Cooperation Council states, Abdullah bin Damithan, said that the UAE considers food security at the top of its long -term priorities, and depends on logistical services as the essential axis to achieve this.

He added to «Emirates Today» that the UAE has moved from the import of 90% of food products, to the establishment of an integrated system based on advanced agriculture and modern treatment, and highly efficient cooling chains networks, stressing that Dubai’s infrastructure currently provides an integrated agricultural food system, including: production, storage, treatment and distribution all over the world.

Bin Damithan continued: “(Jebel Ali Port) acquires about 73% of the total food and beverage trade in the UAE in terms of value,” noting that the last “DB World” investment of 550 million dirhams in the facility of agricultural stations will contribute greatly to enhancing its capabilities to store and treat agricultural goods at the region level, including grains, legumes and soybeans, which supports the continuity of supply Self -sufficiency levels.

Bin Damithan pointed out that the global food system is witnessing growing pressure that threatens its stability, while climatic crises, political tensions and turmoil in supply chains constitute a challenge to the methodology that the world follows in food production, transportation and access ways to it, pointing out that one of all nine people around the world sleeps with hunger, which is an worsening challenge due to the fragility of commercial roads and chains of chains Food supply.

He added: «In 2022, the war in Ukraine led to a sudden stop for grain exports, and given the importance of Ukraine as a chief of wheat and sunflower oil globally, the impact of that war was immediate Geopolitical in global food security. ”

Bin Damithan stated that the new challenges impose the necessity of a fundamental shift in food systems, saying: “World trade is currently witnessing a stage of balance, while emerging economies play a growing and pivotal role, and new commercial paths are formed on the horizon, and in this context, the platforms that bring these countries, whether through bilateral partnerships or multilateral forums, will be a major factor in re -drawing the map of supply chains Global ».

He continued: “The recent developments within the (BRICS) group clearly reflect this transformation, especially its expansion to include the UAE, Egypt, Ethiopia and Indonesia,” noting that “Brix” today represents more than 54% of the world’s population, and produces about half of the agricultural crops worldwide.

Bin Damithan believed that the development of the group indicates a shift towards multiple and more comprehensive trade, as well as open new horizons for trade and investments, indicating that this provides the UAE with an opportunity to share its achievements and successful experiences, and contribute effectively to developing new forms of cooperation, based on the principles of interdependence, innovation and investment.

He cautioned that many regions still face noticeable challenges related to customs clearance procedures, the variation of food standards, and the weakness of the link within the cooling chains, and he said: “Given the short life of the damageable goods, it must be done to provide smooth supply chains.”

Bin Damithan emphasized that the formation of a regional or collective agreement focuses on facilitating food trade by identifying rapid “green tracks” for fast -damaged goods, providing consistent investments in the refrigerated storage facilities, internal railway networks and digital systems, prepares a decisive step to accelerate customs clearance procedures, reduce waste and increase food availability in areas where its deficiency.

He added that other procedures that are of the same importance include unifying the criteria to reduce organizational variation, stressing that the UAE, thanks to its distinguished organizational flexibility and advanced digital structure, can play a leadership role in these efforts.

He continued: «Ensuring the success of this calls for harmonization of national infrastructure plans with regional trade goals, and without that, we will face the risk of establishing assets that do not serve the appropriate markets, as the integration of logistical services, manufacturing and customs clearance is within integrated centers a practical solution that contributes to reducing transit times, lowering cost, and strengthening the reliability of supply chains. This model has proven effective in Jabal Ali, and represents a pioneering experience that can be repeated in emerging markets around the world. ”

Bin Damithan stressed the importance of consolidating cooperation relations between governments, logistical service providers and investors in the private sector, to expand this success and achieve the maximum benefit from it, as he stressed the importance of linking innovation across the regions, where the process of moving food from the farm to the table is witnessing a major shift thanks to the digital monitoring of crops and renewal agriculture, and predictions supported by artificial intelligence and Blockchain technologies.

He said that the opportunity today lies in linking these technologies between different regions, as a cooperative platform that brings together governments, emerging companies and multilateral institutions can accelerate the pace of research and development in the field of agricultural technologies, and support training in the field of smart agriculture climatic, and provides regions that suffer from food shortages. The physical and digital platforms that will communicate innovative ideas to the market.

Bin Damithan stressed that food security is a global responsibility, and it requires an actual integration between infrastructure, innovation, policies and human resources to ensure its achievement. With the emergence of new commercial dynamics, our role lies in enhancing the interconnection of the world and ensuring that the global food security system includes all regions without exception. ”