The Emirates Circular Economy Council is looking into launching innovative economic opportunities in the food sector in the country
ABU DHABI, October 20 / WAM / The Emirates Council for the Circular Economy held its third meeting for the year 2025, chaired by His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, Chairman of the Council, at Al Baraka Dates Factory in Dubai, in the presence of Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, President and CEO of the UAE Independent Accelerators for Climate Change, along with members of the Council who are representatives of government, private and academic agencies.
The meeting reviewed ways to enhance circular economy practices in the food sector in the country and discussed mechanisms for reducing food waste, promoting sustainable consumption, and supporting innovation through new partnerships and initiatives, thus contributing to enhancing food security and unlocking new economic values to enable flexible growth applications in the face of climate change.
His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri stressed that the UAE, thanks to the directives of its wise leadership, has paid great attention to adopting the circular economy model by integrating sustainable solutions into its national economic system, and launching specific policies and initiatives that support the efficiency of resource management and accelerate the shift towards sustainable production and consumption patterns, indicating that the focus on the food sector in this meeting reflects its strategic importance for launching innovative economic opportunities in Enhancing food security and supporting partnerships between various stakeholders in the country, in line with the objectives of the “UAE Circular Economy Agenda 2031” and the “We Are the UAE 2031” vision.
Ibn Touq said during the meeting: “The circular economy in the food sector is not limited to reducing loss and waste, but rather includes restructuring the entire food system from production and consumption to recovery and reuse, which constitutes a national opportunity that requires integrated efforts between the government and private sectors and research institutions at the state level.”
For her part, Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, President and CEO of the UAE Independent Accelerators for Climate Change, said: “Circularity in the food sector constitutes a fundamental pillar for achieving the UAE’s goal of reaching climate neutrality by 2050, and ensuring its food security for future generations. Our country has come a long way in consolidating the principles of the circular economy across various sectors, and today we must To accelerate the pace of this progress and transform it into a tangible and sustainable impact. This transformation will only be achieved through a true partnership between the government and private sectors, based on harmonizing policies and setting incentives that allow circular food solutions to grow and flourish in our local market. By joining efforts, we can transform visions into reality that consolidate the UAE’s position as a global model for innovation. And sustainability.”
During the meeting, the Council reviewed circular economy policies and initiatives in the country’s food sector, including redesigning the food system from production to consumption, promoting a culture of recycling across supply chains, and stimulating innovation in value-added products, in addition to innovative initiatives such as reusing date waste, recycling palm fronds, and the Green Badge initiative aimed at enhancing the role of youth in establishing a culture of sustainability.
The Council stressed the importance of expanding the scope of partnerships and innovation, which contributes to consolidating the UAE’s position as a global center for applying circular practices in various vital sectors.
The meeting witnessed a review of a number of innovative initiatives in the field of the circular economy in the food sector, which included circular practices in date production processes, reusing manufacturing waste to produce new products, and recycling palm fronds, in addition to the Green Badge initiative aimed at promoting youth initiatives in the field of sustainability and creating behavioral change in the food and beverage sector.
The Council stressed the importance of continuing joint work between various stakeholders to expand the scope of applying circular economy practices in the food sector, and exploring new opportunities for innovation and partnerships, in a way that strengthens the UAE’s position as a leading global center in applying circular practices in all vital sectors, within the framework of the objectives of the “UAE Circular Economy Agenda 2031”, which consists of 22 policies based on accelerating the pace of implementing the circular economy model in the UAE within Four main sectors are manufacturing, food, infrastructure, and transportation, which supports national goals in the areas of economic sustainability by enhancing the quality of life and preserving resources.
Following the meeting, His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq toured the Al Baraka Dates Factory facilities, during which he was briefed on the production lines and sustainable technologies used in the factory, in addition to the products derived from dates and their export markets.
His Excellency praised the company’s efforts in adopting innovative production solutions and advanced sustainability practices, especially in the areas of energy efficiency, reducing emissions, and repurposing date waste into value-added products, which reflects a successful model of partnership between the government and private sectors in supporting the goals of the circular economy and enhancing the competitiveness of national exports.
Al Baraka Dates Factory is located in Dubai Industrial City on a total area of 600,000 square feet, including 420,000 square feet for processing and cold storage. It includes more than 6,500 solar panels that contribute to reducing about 3,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually, and its designed production capacity is more than 100,000 tons annually, with its products exported to more than 90 countries.
The UAE is one of the largest producers of dates in the world, and its production reached about 397 thousand tons in 2022, which places it in eighth place in the world according to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- For more: Follow Khaleejion 24 Arabic, Khaleejion 24 English, Khaleejion 24 Live, and for social media follow us on Facebook and Related
