International Water Summit tackles food security in the Arab world

AFED report calls for effective public-private partnerships to close the “food gap”

Abu Dhabi, UAE – 5 January 2015: Arab countries spent US $56 billion in 2011 on food imports, an amount expected to soar to US$150 billion by 2050 if countries don’t address gaps in their food production. This key finding of a recent Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED) report will be addressed by leading policy makers, industry executives and technology experts at the upcoming International Water Summit (IWS), when more than 70 global experts will address key water sustainability and security challenges in the region.

The IWS conference will take place as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), a yearly platform that addresses the interconnected challenges of energy and water security, climate risk and sustainable development. ADSW is hosted by Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company.

“Our report emphasizes the need for effective public-private partnerships across the whole range of agricultural production to close the ‘food gap’ that threatens the Arab countries,” said Najib Saab, AFED secretary general, who will take part on an IWS panel to discuss strategies for improving water sustainability in arid regions.

He pointed out the AFED report found that Arab countries can significantly enhance the prospects of food security through efficient management and investment in both the water and agriculture sectors, combined with regional cooperation and improvement in trade and investment.

“Managing water resources is one of the biggest challenges facing arid regions,” Saab said. “Irrigation efficiency and water productivity need to be boosted to ensure food security for the Arab countries. A radical shift is necessary toward crops that are less water-intensive, even if this means changing dietary habits. For example, in 30 years’ time, Egypt might not have enough water to produce sufficient rice for its people if we do not introduce new crop varieties. IWS plays a crucial role in bringing together experts, policy makers and the corporate sector together to exchange ideas and propose action on these vital issues.”

With 2015 designated as the UAE’s “Year of Innovation,” IWS is contributing to the country’s mission to establish itself as a scientific and intellectual powerhouse by providing a global platform for promoting water sustainability in arid regions. IWS is endorsed by the Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority, the Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi, the Regulation and Supervision Bureau and Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company.

In addition to IWS, ADSW also features the eighth World Future Energy Summit, the second edition of EcoWASTE, and the seventh Zayed Future Energy Prize Award Ceremony; it coincides with the Fifth General Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency.