The Council members addressed several vital issues related to local and global food security challenges. They also examined recommendations of the National Committee for Developing Local Production and Technology, explored the current state of food prices locally and mechanisms for regulating them, and reviewed the National Nutrition Strategy.

Her Excellency Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment and Chair of EFSC, emphasized that the UAE prioritizes food security, and places great importance on reinforcing its capabilities to address the challenges created by global developments that impact the stability of food supply chains and food availability worldwide.

She said: “Enhancing food security primarily relies on understanding its unique nature, as it is directly affected by changes in all sectors while influencing other sectors in turn. Thus, addressing it demands an integrated and agile ecosystem of cooperation and coordination across all relevant sectors, authorities, and institutions. Creating such an ecosystem is the mandate of EFSC.”

She clarified that understanding pressing global challenges is the only way to tackle them and reduce the risk of global food insecurity. That aim requires urgent steps by everyone concerned to see food from a more inclusive perspective, and to consider its role as a critical factor in achieving a major shift towards a better future.

During their second meeting of this year, the Council members assessed the latest developments in the agricultural sector worldwide through early monitoring data on agricultural production, using reports produced by the Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) and FAO’s Food Outlook. AMIS tracks the monthly production of several key commodities, including wheat, rice, and other grains, legumes, and soy.

EFSC reviewed the outcomes of the FFPI, which records monthly variations in global average prices across five basic food groups according to the volume of consumption.

The meeting’s agenda also featured a comprehensive analysis of current food prices locally, and a discussion on the pricing policy of basic consumer goods and their monitoring and regulatory mechanisms. The policy covers a wide basket of commodities, such as cooking oils, eggs, fresh milk, rice, sugar, fresh chicken, legumes, bread, flour, and cleaning supplies, for which traders need to obtain approval from the Ministry of Economy before increasing prices.

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) presented the recommendations previously submitted by the National Committee for Developing Local Production and Technology to the Council members, and updated them on the progress in their implementation. These included designing a mechanism to fund modern agricultural projects, creating a nationwide integrated framework for regulations and import requirements, and adopting measures to boost the sales of local agricultural products.

In addition, the Council members reviewed the National Nutrition Strategy that aims to improve the nutritional status of all UAE population with a collective vision of a healthier and more sustainable future, guided by national, regional, and global policies and strategies to promote health.

They checked on the progress made by the National Nutrition Committee that prepared an analysis report of the state of nutrition in the UAE and held a joint workshop with the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean to develop the second edition of the National Nutrition Strategy and the related action plan involving health and non-health sectors.

Attendees included His Excellency Obaid Rashid Al Hassan Al Shamsi, Director General of the National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority, His Excellency Eng Yousef Al Ali, Assistant Undersecretary for the Electricity, Water and Future Energy Sector at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, His Excellency Dr Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Undersecretary for the Public Health Sector at the Ministry of Health and Prevention, His Excellency Eng Osama Amir Fadhel, Assistant Undersecretary for Industrial Affairs at the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, and Marwan Khalifa Al Sboosi, Director of Competition and Consumer Protection at the Ministry of Economy. Individual emirates were represented by His Excellency Nasser Mohammed Al Junaibi, Executive Director of the Investment and Trade Sector at Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), His Excellency Eng Dawoud Abdulrahman Al Hajri, Director General of Dubai Municipality, His Excellency Dr Abdulaziz bin Butti Al Muhairi, Director of the Sharjah Health Authority, Eng Khalid Moeen Al Hosani, Executive Director of the Public Health and Environment Sector at Ajman Municipality and Planning Department, His Excellency Dr Saif Mohammed Al Ghais, Executive Director of the Ras Al Khaimah Environment Protection and Development Authority, and His Excellency Eng Mohamed Saif Al Afkham, Director General of Fujairah Municipality.

EFSC’s work follows carefully considered priorities, plans, and programs that take into account emergencies, crises, strategic reserves, local agricultural production, food safety, foreign investment, diversification of import sources, and nutrition.