Abu Dhabi, (Business News Report)|| The UAE has announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with New Zealand to enhance cooperation in food security.
According to the Emirates News Agency, WAM, the UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, Maryam Al Muhairi, signed a memorandum of understanding with the New Zealand Minister of Trade, Export Growth and Agriculture Damian O’Connor.
Al Muhairi said that the relations and ties between her country and New Zealand are very strong in all fields.
She pointed out that the last decade witnessed a growth in the volume of trade exchange by more than 11% annually, noting that under the memorandum, the exchange of experiences, knowledge and successful experiences will be enhanced, which in turn enhances food security based on modern technologies and innovative solutions.
For his part, Honorable Damien O’Connor said, “I’m pleased to be here in the UAE and to sign an MoA on a food security partnership with Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri. As an agricultural and innovative trading nation, this partnership recognises our role in supplying high-quality, safe food and beverages to the UAE. Notably, it also identifies opportunities to share knowledge to boost self-sufficiency and collaborate on policy challenges we all face together.”
The MoA covers three areas of cooperation, including exchanging knowledge between government agencies, increasing mutual food trade, and sharing policies and best practices in the sectors.
This step comes with the continuation of the ongoing war in Ukraine following Russia’s invasion, amid international fears of its impact on a food crisis in several countries, including the Gulf states.
Last Thursday, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said it was not clear whether Ukraine would be able to reap the harvest if the conflict dragged on, with uncertainty also surrounding Russia’s food exports.
The FAO said that Russia is the largest exporter of wheat in the world, while Ukraine ranked fifth, and together they provide 19% of the world’s supply of barley, 14% of wheat supplies, and 4% of maize. This makes up more than a third of world grain exports.
The organization noted that global food and feed prices may rise by between 8% and 20% as a result of the conflict in Ukraine, which will lead to a jump in the number of malnourished people around the world.
