emirates7 - Abdul Hakim Elwaer, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa, praised the UAE as a key strategic partner in enhancing food security and advancing sustainable agricultural innovations in the face of growing global and regional challenges.
During an interview with the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on his visit to the UAE, Elwaer highlighted the UAE's strong partnership with the FAO as a reflection of its dedication to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He noted the UAE's crucial role in supporting FAO initiatives through financial contributions to food security projects and the provision of technical expertise.
Elwaer stressed the urgent need for significant investments, potentially in the trillions of dollars, to close the existing gaps and meet the SDGs, particularly in vulnerable regions. He commended the UAE’s prominent role in global efforts to fight hunger and enhance food security through strategic collaborations with the FAO.
Examples of this partnership include a food security project in northeastern Nigeria, supported by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, which benefits over 58,000 people. In Liberia, the UAE contributes to a project aimed at increasing resilience, income generation, and food security for rural women, benefiting 2,000 farmers across 24 groups in six counties through the introduction of mobile farming units equipped with cold storage and solar-powered irrigation.
Elwaer also highlighted the FAO's initiatives to raise awareness about food security through various programs that promote understanding of food challenges and sustainable agriculture. He emphasized the importance of involving youth in agricultural innovation, citing UAE-led projects like vertical farming and climate-smart agriculture, which aim to boost agricultural productivity and address climate change.
During an interview with the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on his visit to the UAE, Elwaer highlighted the UAE's strong partnership with the FAO as a reflection of its dedication to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He noted the UAE's crucial role in supporting FAO initiatives through financial contributions to food security projects and the provision of technical expertise.
Elwaer stressed the urgent need for significant investments, potentially in the trillions of dollars, to close the existing gaps and meet the SDGs, particularly in vulnerable regions. He commended the UAE’s prominent role in global efforts to fight hunger and enhance food security through strategic collaborations with the FAO.
Examples of this partnership include a food security project in northeastern Nigeria, supported by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, which benefits over 58,000 people. In Liberia, the UAE contributes to a project aimed at increasing resilience, income generation, and food security for rural women, benefiting 2,000 farmers across 24 groups in six counties through the introduction of mobile farming units equipped with cold storage and solar-powered irrigation.
Elwaer also highlighted the FAO's initiatives to raise awareness about food security through various programs that promote understanding of food challenges and sustainable agriculture. He emphasized the importance of involving youth in agricultural innovation, citing UAE-led projects like vertical farming and climate-smart agriculture, which aim to boost agricultural productivity and address climate change.