Dubai: The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), hosted a pioneering workshop titled 'Legislations of the Future' aimed at propelling innovation and sustainability within the UAE's agriculture and food safety sectors. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to develop a dynamic regulatory ecosystem that aligns with the UAE's food security and sustainability goals.
According to Emirates News Agency, the workshop was inaugurated by Dr. Mohammed Salman Al Hammadi, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Food Diversity Sector at MOCCAE. It gathered representatives from government bodies, FAO, the private sector, academia, research institutions, and international experts in agricultural and food policy and regulation. In his opening address, Dr. Al Hammadi emphasized the necessity of modernizing regulatory frameworks to bolster the UAE's food security and adapt to rapid technological advancements in agriculture and food sectors.
Dr. Al Hammadi stated, 'Guided by the UAE's visionary leadership, we are dedicated to crafting agile and forward-thinking regulatory frameworks that adapt to rapid transformations in agriculture and food sectors. These frameworks will promote innovation, optimize natural resource usage, accelerate technology adoption, and contribute to a more resilient and sustainable food system.' He further emphasized MOCCAE's commitment to working with national and international partners to create an environment conducive to innovation and investment, empowering the private sector to support the UAE's long-term food security objectives.
Dr. Ahmed Mukhtar, Acting Head of the FAO Sub-Regional Office in the UAE, added, 'Food security and forward-looking legislation form the bedrock of a resilient agrifood system. The FAO office is proud to partner with the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment in developing flexible regulatory frameworks that support innovation in agriculture, food safety, and animal health, while promoting international standards in the food value chain.'
The workshop included interactive sessions addressing three main themes: sustainable food security, overcoming legislative and environmental challenges, and facilitating advanced agricultural technologies. Participants analyzed policies and regulatory frameworks supporting agricultural technologies, livestock development, food safety, and natural resource management to enhance food supply chain efficiency and sustainability.
The first session evaluated water resource usage in traditional farming, aiming to increase local production and reduce waste. It highlighted the need for legal frameworks to support alternative proteins and non-traditional animal feed, while promoting local produce in supermarkets.
The second session focused on designing flexible frameworks using a regulatory sandbox model to attract agritech startups. It covered global benchmarks in smart vertical farming, cultivated meat, water scarcity management, and models for regulating alternative proteins. Discussions included global best practices and strict biosecurity controls from Australia, California, and Chile.
The third session outlined action plans and timelines, with concrete deadlines for the UAE to implement these reforms and established KPIs to evaluate their impact. The UAE aims to reduce licensing times for agritech ventures by 50% and onboard around 10 pioneering startups into the sandbox within the first year. Additionally, the initiative targets a 30% reduction in irrigation water usage per crop tonne and a 15% reduction in food waste, positioning the UAE as a global leader in sustainable, self-sufficient food systems.
The workshop concluded with a collective commitment to enhancing collaboration among government entities, the private sector, research institutions, and consumers to solidify the UAE's status as a global hub for sustainable agriculture and food security.