Minister of Agriculture: Food insecurity in some regions of the world poses an increasing challenge
The Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Alaa Farouk, said that the problem of food insecurity in some regions of the world in our regional surroundings constitutes an increasing challenge, given that these countries are among the most food importers.
This came in the Minister of Agriculture’s speech during the opening session. The World Summit on Food Security is currently being held in the Emirati capital, Abu Dhabi, and is being held under the patronage of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the UAE, Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the Presidential Office in the Emirates, in the presence of ministers, ambassadors and representatives. International organizations.
Farouk added that the successive global crises, starting from the Corona pandemic and continuing through the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, have caused an increasing rise in energy and food prices with increasing disruptions in supply chains, and climate changes have also affected people’s ability to produce food.
The Minister conveyed the greetings of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to his brother, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, President of the UAE, praying to God to grant the UAE the blessing of security and stability, extending his thanks to Dr. Amna. Al Shamsi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, for the invitation to participate in the important summit in light of the regional and international challenges that the world is witnessing today.
He explained that achieving food security and building healthy, safe and sustainable food systems globally have faced severe and intertwined challenges during the recent period that represent… The most important of which are the rise in food and energy prices, the high rate of food loss and waste, as well as the effects of shocks related to natural disasters and epidemics that have faced the world recently.
He continued, “It is to confront the challenges of food security and build systems.” More sustainable food products that are compatible with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) regarding eliminating hunger. The focus must be on supporting the outputs of applied scientific research, benefiting from artificial intelligence applications, activating early warning systems, and searching for innovative financing mechanisms that support food security and cooperation with development partners. To provide easy financing programs to support agricultural development in countries.
He stressed the need to focus on the use of improved seeds and improving breeds while supporting agricultural census programs, which in turn reflects the state of food security in countries. In preparation for developing appropriate solutions for them, while linking foreign investments to local development plans, especially those concerned with food security projects, as well as strengthening food safety systems at all stages of production, enhancing value-added products, and removing technical obstacles to the flow and exchange of agricultural goods between countries, as well as supporting the stability of countries and the importance of peaceful coexistence and ending Conflicts.
The Minister of Agriculture reviewed the efforts made by the state during the era of President Sisi to achieve food security for citizens and the unprecedented support from the president and to develop the agricultural sector in Egypt. To achieve a higher degree of food security and provide agricultural raw materials necessary for national industries, through vertical agricultural expansion, which aims to increase the productivity of land and water units.
He pointed out that among the efforts made during the era of President Sisi, is agricultural expansion. Horizontal reclamation of new lands to increase the agricultural area, including the 1.5 million acres project and the new delta project with an area of 2.2 million acres, in addition to reclamation projects in the lands of Toshka and East Uwaynat, in addition to interest in expansion. In fish farming projects, livestock and poultry development, and the development of high-yielding plant varieties of strategic crops.
The Minister of Agriculture, in concluding his speech, praised this important summit, which aims to achieve sustainable agricultural development and support food systems through honest and constructive dialogue that helps Countries must achieve food security and transition to sustainable food systems that guarantee healthy and safe food for current generations and preserve the rights of future generations to limited natural resources. To achieve the sustainable development goals of eliminating hunger and malnutrition.
