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Dubai / Emirates Business
HE Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri concluded her trip to Singapore that included government visits to explore prospects of cooperation between the two countries in terms of food security, as well as ways to facilitate the exchange of knowledge, international best practices and governance, in the lead-up to the launch of the UAE National Strategy for Future Food Security.
The UAE delegation also included HE Dr Mohamed Omar Abdulla Balfaqeeh the UAE Ambassador in Singapore, and representatives from the Food Security Center in Abu Dhabi. The visiting delegates were met by HE Sun Xueling, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of National Development, and the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA), who introduced them to the advanced food technologies implemented in city-state, and the commonalities they share with the ones in force in the UAE, including vertical and home farming. These technologies have established Singapore amongst the top 5 most food secure countries in the world according to Global Food Security Index 2017.
To better grasp megatrends, disruptive technologies in food production, and world-class pilots in the food production industry, Her Excellency alongside the delegation visited applied research facilities, leading private sector companies, and aquaculture facilities, which implement unique pasteurisation technologies.
The visit to the National University of Singapore looked at the applied research to utilise the Black Soldier Fly (BSF) in treating food waste. The species is native to most regions, does not transmit diseases, and has the capacity to consume all food waste and transform that into two main by-products: high-protein animal feed and plant fertilizers, and thus the possibility to achieve zero food waste. Discussions with the research team in charge looked into commercial viability and potential application areas in the UAE to reduce food waste and enhance future food security.
Enterprise Singapore alongside key research entities and industry players discussed the enhancement of current joint efforts and further growth for capacity building, knowledge transfer, research projects, and food sourcing diversification.
The visit resulted in a host of plans and programmes that seek to facilitate the exchange of food-security-related best practices and tactical implementation plans between the UAE and Singapore. Her Excellency drew on the comparisons between the two countries, both of whom share similar concerns and challenges with regards to food production and thus can benefit from adopting technologies and piloting transformative ideas.