As world leaders convened in Sharm El Sheikh last week to address the climate crisis, there was no doubt that we are witnessing the challenge of our times. Compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic, extreme weather patterns and regional conflicts, these global issues are contributing to failing crops, rising food prices, and affecting the seamless movement of food from producers to consumers.
This is especially evident in Africa and Asia. Africa’s already depleted soils are suffering from too little rain. Pests are attacking crops. And smallholder farmers – their fields and their profits – are under threat. More than ever, these challenges highlight the urgent need for innovation to address global food security.
Transforming food and land use systems offers an opportunity to mitigate the effects of climate change by 37 per cent towards net zero by 2030 in addition to building societies resilient to future shocks and stresses. Sustainable farming and consumption are critical to creating the right balance between the needs of people and the needs of our planet. The Sustainable Development Goals give us direction. However, with just eight years left to 2030 – when we should have achieved universal food security and poverty reduction – it is time to revisit our roadmap and seek quicker and more impactful ways to get there.
This means that in the coming years, we must use innovation and technology with urgency to drive change in how we produce, process and eat food – along the whole food systems pathway. We must look for sustainable and technology-based systems that provide sustainable options for countering food loss and food waste, which today accounts for an estimated 17 per cent of total global food production. And we must acknowledge that a food systems approach is not only positive for the environment and climate, but also vital for economic growth – food systems are a $13 trillion industry that is responsible for 40 per cent of all employment. Pathways that grow economies and create jobs are urgently needed in the aftermath of the pandemic.
Africa’s already depleted soils are suffering from too little rain
The good news is that this message is being heard and acted upon. We are already seeing how food systems can be transformed using modern agricultural technologies.
Scientific innovation has contributed to enhancing the way food is produced, including through improved seed genetics. We have seen farmers quadruple their maize harvests by switching to hybrid seed varieties, which use nutrients better, grow faster and have higher yields. We are witnessing new levels of on-farm efficiency arising from the use of drones in soil mapping, as well as other digital tools that drive precision farming. Many young innovators are also developing digital technologies that link producers to both local and international markets.
These new tools and approaches have great impact in arid geographies in Africa and the Middle East where climate-related effects on food production are deeply felt. The impact of these innovations extends beyond climate and food security. Women are involved in close to 70 per cent of the production of Africa’s food. By giving women access to new and innovative technologies, we will be able to build their resilience and create a whole range of multiplier effects that strengthen the underlying ecosystem.
Competitions such as the FoodTech Challenge, which have been organised by the UAE’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and Tamkeen, are playing an instrumental role in enabling food system innovation. I am thrilled to be a judge in this competition, which is now in its second edition and has received over 660 applications from 79 countries, to provide compelling solutions to food production and food loss. The solutions that we have examined range from leveraging game-changing fog-based technology to deliver more nutritious crops using 95 per cent less water, to using AI and systems powered by the Internet of Things to minimise and quantify waste at individual and industrial levels. Initiatives such as these – and the many other solutions that we saw coming out of the Food Systems Summit – have the profound ability to address food security challenges and transform lives and livelihoods.
Innovation is ultimately the key to progress. To give an example, the institution I lead – Agra – is working with partners to scale digital technology, drought tolerant seed varieties and regeneration of soils. These solutions have the potential to address low productivity and yields, lack of climate information, lack of access to credit and weak market linkages.
That said, for these technologies to achieve their full potential, additional action from key stakeholders in the agriculture ecosystem is required. From regulators and policymakers to NGOs, donors and the private sector, it is crucial that stakeholders across the entire food ecosystem come together and come through on these efforts. This is a critical responsibility for developed countries, in particular, but also for leaders around the world if we are to ensure a more inclusive future for food and benefits to those who are the most vulnerable.
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Scoreline:
Everton 4
Richarlison 13'), Sigurdsson 28', Digne 56', Walcott 64'
Manchester United 0
Man of the match: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton)
UAE%20PREMIERSHIP
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PAKISTAN SQUAD
Abid Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali (test captain), Babar Azam (T20 captain), Asad Shafiq, Fawad Alam, Haider Ali, Iftikhar Ahmad, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper), Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Imran Khan, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Sohail Khan, Usman Shinwari, Wahab Riaz, Imad Wasim, Kashif Bhatti, Shadab Khan and Yasir Shah.
The specs: 2019 Jeep Wrangler
Price, base: Dh132,000
Engine: 3.6-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 285hp @ 6,400rpm
Torque: 347Nm @ 4,100rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.6L to 10.3L / 100km
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
UAE v Zimbabwe A
Results
Match 1 – UAE won by 4 wickets
Match 2 – UAE won by 5 wickets
Match 3 – UAE won by 25 runs
Match 4 – UAE won by 77 runs
Fixture
Match 5, Saturday, 9.30am start, ICC Academy, Dubai
Best Foreign Language Film nominees
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
Your Guide to the Home
- Level 1 has a valet service if you choose not to park in the basement level. This level houses all the kitchenware, including covetable brand French Bull, along with a wide array of outdoor furnishings, lamps and lighting solutions, textiles like curtains, towels, cushions and bedding, and plenty of other home accessories.
- Level 2 features curated inspiration zones and solutions for bedrooms, living rooms and dining spaces. This is also where you’d go to customise your sofas and beds, and pick and choose from more than a dozen mattress options.
- Level 3 features The Home’s “man cave” set-up and a display of industrial and rustic furnishings. This level also has a mother’s room, a play area for children with staff to watch over the kids, furniture for nurseries and children’s rooms, and the store’s design studio.
MATCH INFO
Norwich 0
Watford 2 (Deulofeu 2', Gray 52')
Red card: Christian Kabasele (WatforD)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
INDIA SQUAD
Rohit Sharma (captain), Shikhar Dhawan (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Suresh Raina, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik (wicketkeeper), Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Vijay Shankar, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammad Siraj and Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper)
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs: 2018 Volkswagen Teramont
Price, base / as tested Dh137,000 / Dh189,950
Engine 3.6-litre V6
Gearbox Eight-speed automatic
Power 280hp @ 6,200rpm
Torque 360Nm @ 2,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 11.7L / 100km
Iftar programme at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
Established in 1998, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding was created with a vision to teach residents about the traditions and customs of the UAE. Its motto is ‘open doors, open minds’. All year-round, visitors can sign up for a traditional Emirati breakfast, lunch or dinner meal, as well as a range of walking tours, including ones to sites such as the Jumeirah Mosque or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.
Every year during Ramadan, an iftar programme is rolled out. This allows guests to break their fast with the centre’s presenters, visit a nearby mosque and observe their guides while they pray. These events last for about two hours and are open to the public, or can be booked for a private event.
Until the end of Ramadan, the iftar events take place from 7pm until 9pm, from Saturday to Thursday. Advanced booking is required.
For more details, email openminds@cultures.ae or visit www.cultures.ae
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
