Director of Lulu Group International Dr. Mohamed Althaf during a session on Food Systems National Dialogue organised by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment yesterday.
Doha: The State of Qatar represented by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) has aligned its Food Security Programme with the global initiatives and targets ensuring sustainability and improving its food system.
“Climate change is the most imminent and potentially more frightening challenge to food security. Faced with the challenge of producing food under harsh climatic conditions, Qatar is implementing wide-ranging programmes to help farmers overcome water scarcity and low-nutrient soil, in line with global targets on climate-smart agriculture,” said Director of Lulu Group International, Dr. Mohamed Althaf.
Dr. Althaf was speaking at the panel discussion held yesterday on the topic ‘Action Track Equitable Trade Practices’ on the sidelines of the Qatar Food Systems National Dialogue organised by the MME.
He said that Qatar also supports the International Fund for Agricultural Development, which seeks to provide small farmers with assistance to mitigate climate-related risks.
“In spite of harsh climate and adverse circumstances, Qatar’s food security programme is the best in class. Qatar is advancing agricultural development by funding research and using the latest technologies in the fields of engineering and agriculture.”
He said that through Food Security Call programme implemented by the MME and the Qatar National Research Fund, the country is developing new planting methods, irrigation systems and crop varieties in line with global initiatives.
“Every business today is a data business. Agriculture can take advantage of big data and Internet of Things (IOT). This could help Qatar to build precision farming and help to prevent transportation cost,” said Dr. Althaf.
“As a country that widely deploys vertical farming, hydroponic greenhouses and other technological methods of urban agriculture in an effort to build self-sufficiency, Qatar is aligning its agricultural production with the FAO’s Urban Food Agenda programme, a flagship initiative to enhance sustainable food production and nutrition in urban and peri-urban areas, as well as nearby rural spaces”, he indicated.
Dr. Althaf said that MME has initiatives to foster urban-rural linkages and collaboration between local farmers and large retailers.
“This aligns Qatar with the FAO’s Food for the Cities Initiative, which aims to address the challenges urbanisation poses to food production by building resilient food systems,” he added.
He said that the country has adopted the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a strategic framework to achieve its long-term national development priorities, including in the area of food security. “In particular, SDG 2 – which focuses explicitly on ending hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition and promoting sustainable agriculture – has been incorporated into the QNFSP.”
