Director-General and Minister for Food Security of the United Arab Emirates outline key initiatives

15 October 2019, Rome – FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu and H.E. Mariam bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Al Mehairi, Minister for Food Security of the United Arab Emirates, in talks today reviewed key initiatives supported by the country.

During the meeting, H.E. Mariam bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Al Mehairi and the FAO Director-General outlined future key cooperation areas such as the importance of youth in the agricultural sector and presented the word “Agri-technology” as an attractive way to invite them to engage in agriculture. They also highlighted the great need for innovation in agriculture and acknowledged the relevance of technology-based agricultural production to achieve food security hydroponics and vertical farms.

The parties expressed satisfaction for the Agreement for funding support to the Committee on World Food Security signed yesterday; the Triangular Agreement signed in September; the recent Partnership Agreement subscribed among the United Arab Emirates Government, FAO and the UAE renewable energy company (Masdar) for the Liberia project, which is of crucial relevance for promoting increased resilience and sustainable income generation, food security and nutrition for rural women.

They both agreed that such initiatives could be replicated within the Organization’s new Hand-in-Hand initiative, welcomed by Her Excellency the Minister for Food Security.