UN forum told meatless diets and farming innovations can help conquer global hunger


Nick Webster
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A return to nature and traditional forms of farming will help to increase crop yields in regions starved of water and fertile soil, agricultural experts said.

An online conference, hosted by the European Union and United Nations World Food Programme, discussed challenges facing the agricultural industry in the fallout from the global pandemic.

The WFP estimates that about 270 million people now face food insecurity, double the number before the rise of Covid-19 as a result of disrupted supply chains and job losses.

The consumer can help massively by switching to more plant-based diets

As part of the UN Food Systems Summit, panellists revealed how those issues were being addressed through innovation.

Hussain Al Mahmoudi, chief executive of American University of Sharjah Enterprises and Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park, said the UAE was focusing on local solutions to local issues.

“We need to design practical solutions to create the right models to address local needs and local opportunities,” he said.

“In this part of the world, agri-tech is an attractive word to throw around, but we need to educate and work with young people to make it more effective.

“There is not one answer or solution; the UAE has its own situation.

“There are some great technologies out there, but there is a disconnect and this is one of the challenges that we have.”

In a quiet corner of Jebel Ali, an aquatic indoor farm has brought the freshwater lakes of Scotland to the UAE. Chris Whiteoak / The National
In a quiet corner of Jebel Ali, an aquatic indoor farm has brought the freshwater lakes of Scotland to the UAE. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Natural solutions

One project by students at SRTI uses artificial intelligence to monitor fish movements and measure when and how much they eat, so farming can be made more efficient.

The park is also a centre for vertical farms, hydroponic solutions (soil-free farming) and water recycling, which uses fish faeces as a natural crop fertiliser.

Prof Andrew Lowe, director of food innovation and chairman of plant conservation biology at the University of Adelaide, said natural solutions were helping to solve farming problems.

He said vineyards were using technology to maximise limited water resources in the wine-producing Riverland region of South Australia.

“Computer vision can now recognise when crops will flower and fruit, which enables farmers to be more precise with their harvest,” he said.

“We are seeing regenerative farming practices and cover crops grown between rows of vines to build up carbon in the soil and encourage water retention.

“Simple things like planting hedgerows reserved for bees can also service crops reliant on pollinators.”

Prof Lowe said the technique can increase productivity by 25 per cent to 50 per cent, and is a low-tech solution that can work alongside agri-tech.

Over-consumption of meat

More sustainable livestock farming is a potential solution to some issues around global hunger, he said.

"We have seen an awakening [to] some of the problems with livestock systems," he said.

“Land use and water sources can be taken over by livestock, but there is rarely an alternative in parts of the world where intensive agriculture would not work.

“But in much of the developed world we are seeing a mass over-consumption of meat.

“About 100 kilograms of meat a year is consumed per person in Australia – four times the recommended annual limit by the WHO.

"Alternative diets such as  vegan, flexitarian or vegetarian will help promote better health and changes to meat production."

Efficient, inclusive and resilient food systems underpin the WFP’s Zero Hunger agenda.

A farmer walks through a shed at his chicken farm in Longyan, Fujian province, China. Qilai Shen / Bloomberg
A farmer walks through a shed at his chicken farm in Longyan, Fujian province, China. Qilai Shen / Bloomberg

The UAE has become one of the leading WFP donors, since 2018 providing $650 million to support its operations.

But the rapid rise in hunger taking hold around the world suggests existing food systems require major transformation.

Katja Seidenschnur, Nestle's sustainability director for Europe, Middle East and North Africa, said change is already under way.

“If we go back to natural soils and traditional agriculture, a lot of the problems will be solved by themselves,” she said.

“Nature does not need technology or data, and we want to work with farmers to protect biodiversity.

“The consumer can help massively by switching to more plant-based diets, and we want to support that to help change their behaviour.

“You can change habits quite easily when you realise there are more plant-based alternative foods out there now.”

From Zero

Artist: Linkin Park

Label: Warner Records

Number of tracks: 11

Rating: 4/5

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo

Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm

Transmission: eight-speed auto

Price: from Dh122,745

On sale: now

Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid

When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid

What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

Company%20profile
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If you go

The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Seattle from Dh5,555 return, including taxes. Portland is a 260 km drive from Seattle and Emirates offers codeshare flights to Portland with its partner Alaska Airlines.

The car

Hertz (www.hertz.ae) offers compact car rental from about $300 per week, including taxes. Emirates Skywards members can earn points on their car hire through Hertz.

Parks and accommodation

For information on Crater Lake National Park, visit www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm . Because of the altitude, large parts of the park are closed in winter due to snow. While the park’s summer season is May 22-October 31, typically, the full loop of the Rim Drive is only possible from late July until the end of October. Entry costs $25 per car for a day. For accommodation, see www.travelcraterlake.com. For information on Umpqua Hot Springs, see www.fs.usda.gov and https://soakoregon.com/umpqua-hot-springs/. For Bend, see https://www.visitbend.com/.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000