Abu Dhabi targets 70% food self-sufficiency by 2040 under new ADAFSA strategy

Abu Dhabi has set a goal of achieving 70% self-sufficiency in basic food commodities by 2040, according to a new strategy unveiled at the Global Food Security Summit (GFSS) opening today at ADNEC Centre in Abu Dhabi. Director General of ADAFSA, Tareq Al Ameri, explained that the strategy is built on five pillars and 13 programmes, with the first focusing on increasing production to meet the emirate's food needs, targeting a 70% self-sufficiency rate by 2040.

The second pillar aims to optimize resources and improve water efficiency, with a goal to reduce water consumption by 50% by the same date. The third pillar emphasizes resilience and supply security, setting an ambition for the UAE to rise to the top five in the Global Food Security Index. The fourth pillar centers on technology, with the aim to increase the sector's contribution to Abu Dhabi's economy from AED 9.5 billion to AED 34.6 billion by 2040.

The fifth pillar stresses that a strategy succeeds through ground-level change. UAE Trade Minister Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi highlighted the summit's importance in an era of shifting trade routes and increasing climate change impacts, emphasizing the UAE's role as a key hub in the global food industry and the need for interconnected, resilient food systems.