Event News

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and COP28 co-hosted an event entitled ‘Advancing Climate Action through Sustainable Agriculture and Resilient Food Systems’ during the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on 22 September 2024. (Image source: MOCCAE))

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) and COP28 co-hosted an event entitled ‘Advancing Climate Action through Sustainable Agriculture and Resilient Food Systems’ during the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on 22 September 2024

During the opening of the event, the Minister of Climate Change and Environment, Dr Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak began with a keynote speech highlighting the importance of sustainable food systems in the global climate agenda and how the COP28 UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate Action, which was launched last year at COP28, has raised global ambition on this.

This event provided a platform for United Nations Member States and other stakeholders to share actions they have taken in their own national contexts to enhance their agriculture and food systems in light of climate change. It also offered an opportunity to share their perspectives on potential deliverables at COP29 and related fora. Stakeholders highlighted key agriculture, food, and climate milestones that are crucial for maintaining momentum from COP28 to COP29 and COP30. 

Moreover, the event placed special emphasis on Member States’ thinking around the role of agriculture and food systems in the next round of NDCs, NAPs, and NBSAPs, and how to accelerate all forms of finance to support this critical part of our climate transition. 

“The UAE is committed to championing food systems innovations that are good for both people and planet, and the partnership on agricultural innovation that we co-launched with the Gates Foundation at COP28 is focused precisely on this objective," said Head of International Affairs Office at the Presidential Court, CEO of 2PointZero, Mariam Almheiri. "We are proud to be the first donor country from the MENA region to join the CGIAR's System Council, and in the coming years, we plan to work closely with the CGIAR and all of our global partners to develop and scale promising innovations that can help smallholder farmers improve their livelihoods in the face of climate change."

Minister Steenhuisen will be conducting bilaterals with his Italian counterpart, Minister Francesco Lollobrigida. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen attended the G7 Agriculture Forum for Africa from 26-27 September 

The two-day forum mainly focused on strengthening cooperation between the G7 countries and Africa in the agricultural sector and agriculture investments in Africa. This aligns with one of Minister Steenhuisen's key priorities which is to widen existing trade and cooperation markets and open new ones for South African agricultural products.

Minister Steenhuisen will be conducting bilaterals with his Italian counterpart, Minister Francesco Lollobrigida, where they hope to conclude a memorandum of understanding between the republic of South Africa and the Italian government on cooperation in the field of agriculture and rural development. 

In addition, bilaterals were arranged with the World Food Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations and the International Fund of Agriculture Development (IFAD). These bilaterals are aimed at securing cooperation, funding and support for the South African agricultural sector.

Currently at 60% self-sufficiency in home-produced foodstuffs, the aim is to become 100% self-sufficient. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The ongoing SOMMET DE L’ÉLEVAGE (LIVESTOCK SUMMIT) is taking place from 1-4 October in Clermont-Ferrand, France

Hosting 2,000 animals representing 70 different breeds of livestock, 1,700 exhibitors from 35 countries will be attending the event which will also host a packed programme for the expected 120,000 visitors. 

As an international business forum, the SOMMET DE L’ÉLEVAGE is also more than 5,000 foreign visitors from over 90 countries, who come to discover French cattle and sheep breeds, and meet suppliers of farm equipment, animal feed and health products, and not forgetting new technologies and the latest industry innovations. As every year, they can expect a VIP welcome with a specific programme of events and activities to include access to the International Lounge, farm visits and the international gala evening, among others.

Known for its long tradition of nomadic livestock farming, Kazakhstan possesses 32 million hectares of croppable land, that’s more than that of France and Germany combined. Known as the number one sheep meat producer in central Asia, Kazakhstan is also the sixth world producer of wheat.

"At a time when agriculture is facing major challenges, our event throws light on the many issues facing livestock farmers, such as replacing the current generation of farmers, young people setting up in business, farmers’ quality of life, improving incomes, climate change, animal welfare, etc," said the show's general manager, Fabrice Berthon. "They come to us to learn more about the challenges they ultimately face. The SOMMET DE L’ÉLEVAGE gives them solutions, ideas and perspectives that they may not find elsewhere. All in the festive, friendly atmosphere for which our event is world renowned. Because that too is all part of the SOMMET, four days of sharing, chatting and laughing, it’s some valuable down time for everyone!"

UAE launches expanded US$2mn Global FoodTech Challenge at Clinton Global Initiative 2024 Annual Meeting during the UN General Assembly. (Image source: FoodTech Challenge)

During the UN General Assembly (UNGA) this year, the latest installment of the FoodTech Challenge competition was launched at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) 2024 Annual Meeting held in New York

In response to growing global food security challenges, the FoodTech Challenge identifies and supports leading early-stage, tech-driven solutions poised to transform food systems in harsh environments. Offering its biggest cash prize to date, FoodTech Challenge 3.0 is expanding its focus to three key areas: food and water, food and energy, and food loss and waste. 

Through a shared US$2mn cash prize, as well as go-to-market support and access to a robust network of partners, four winning start-ups will undertake new projects and partnerships to demonstrate, refine, and expand their leading tech solutions in the UAE. From this base, the teams can then scale their solutions to underserved markets in the Global South and contribute to a more food-secure future for all. Developing new ways to nourish a rapidly growing population with finite resources and such a challenging climate as that of the UAE, will provide solutions that are replicable across much of the world. 

In just two editions, the competition has garnered over 1,100 applications from start-ups across 98 countries. 

"After the historic COP28 Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action, and the announcement of the partnership between the UAE and the Gates Foundation on agriculture innovation, the critical role of agriculture and food production in the wider climate crisis is increasingly coming into focus," said head of the International Affairs Office at the Presidential Court and co-chair of the FoodTech Challenge, Mariam Almheiri. "With the rising demands for food, water, and energy in the face of climate change, we need bold action, innovative thinking, and a transformative approach to our food systems."