Dubai, UAE: Promoting sustainable healthy diets is necessary to transform global food systems and help halt accelerating climate change – that was the key message delivered by Her Excellency Mariam Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, during the 49th Session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS).

Participating at the virtual event held today (Tuesday, October 12), the recently-appointed Minister, gave a speech at a CFS session titled: ‘Making a Difference in Food Security and Nutrition.’

During her address, Her Excellency highlighted the efforts the UAE is undertaking to transform its food systems into more sustainable ones, drawing attention to how modern food production methods such as Controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) and aquaculture produce healthy foods whilst also being less harmful to the planet than traditional farming methods.

“The transformation of our food systems is an essential requirement for a food secure future, because our traditional food systems are wasteful, inefficient, and major emitters of the greenhouse gases that are driving climate change,” said H.E. Almheiri.

“Foods produced from Controlled Environment Agriculture Systems are of high quality and more nutritious because they are fresher – they include fruits, vegetables, herbs and leafy greens. The same systems can also produce protein, such as fish and seafood, which are healthier alternatives to too much red meat. High consumption of red meat and processed meat is shown to be harmful for individual health, as well as the health of the planet.”

Her Excellency stressed that governments and the private sector not only have a responsibility to be the architects of new food systems underpinned by technology and innovation, they must also engage with the community to drive a change in food consumption behaviour.

“Healthy and sustainable food systems need healthy and sustainable eating patterns to enable them to deliver on their full potential. In light of this, the UAE is actively promoting spreading awareness of this importance. This not only creates a stronger society, it also promotes agricultural sectors that are less harmful to the planet,” said Her Excellency.

During her speech, H.E. Almheiri highlighted that sustaining food safety and improving nutritional intake is one of the five pillars of the UAE National Food Security Strategy 2051. She concluded by drawing attention to the National Nutrition Guidelines –introduced in 2019 – which aim to improve the nutritional status of the UAE community for a more sustainable and healthier future.

-Ends-

Send us your press releases to pressrelease.zawya@refinitiv.com

© Press Release 2021

Disclaimer: The contents of this press release was provided from an external third party provider. This website is not responsible for, and does not control, such external content. This content is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis and has not been edited in any way. Neither this website nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this press release.

The press release is provided for informational purposes only. The content does not provide tax, legal or investment advice or opinion regarding the suitability, value or profitability of any particular security, portfolio or investment strategy. Neither this website nor our affiliates shall be liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the content, or for any actions taken by you in reliance thereon. You expressly agree that your use of the information within this article is at your sole risk.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, this website, its parent company, its subsidiaries, its affiliates and the respective shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, advertisers, content providers and licensors will not be liable (jointly or severally) to you for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, incidental, punitive or exemplary damages, including without limitation, lost profits, lost savings and lost revenues, whether in negligence, tort, contract or any other theory of liability, even if the parties have been advised of the possibility or could have foreseen any such damages.