Sustainable food security key to achieving Vision 2040

MUSCAT: Sustainability in food security projects stands as one of the core pillars of achieving Oman Vision 2040, with Oman striving to balance the conservation of natural resources and the growth of its economy.
Delivering the keynote address at the Food Security Lab 2025, organised by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources (MoAFWR), Zainab bint Waleed al Zadjaliyah, Head of the Sustainability and Evaluation Center, emphasised that sustainability is not an option but a necessity driven by environmental and economic realities.
“Sustainability in food resources is a national necessity and requires building an integrated system based on enabling initiatives that support value chains. Such a system should contribute to creating an effective food network that preserves natural resources while simultaneously enhancing economic returns,” she said.
On the fourth day of the Food Security Lab 2025, being held at the St Regis Hotel, experts from diverse sectors and international specialists came together to exchange insights, present research papers, and explore innovative solutions for sustainable food and water security.
Al Zadjali explained that achieving sustainability in food and water security requires coordinated efforts across production, financing and marketing. She noted that it begins with ensuring access to renewable energy sources such as hydroelectric and solar power, particularly in regions like Najd, to make agricultural and fisheries projects more resilient. She further highlighted the importance of building effective partnerships between the banking and food security sectors to provide flexible and sustainable financing solutions that meet evolving project needs.
Al Zadjali also underlined the significance of the value-added and marketing stages in enhancing the competitiveness of Omani food products locally and internationally. She concluded that this integrated approach represents a strategic road map for building a diversified and sustainable food economy that reflects Oman’s national vision and strengthens Oman’s position as a regional hub for food security.
Speaking to Observer on the sidelines of the event, Eng Abdulaziz bin Mohammed al Shukaili, Director of Investment at MoAFWR, emphasised that investment is one of the central pillars of the Food Security Lab 2025 and a key driver in achieving food security in line with Oman Vision 2040.
“Investment discussions at the Lab include reviewing the strategic investment programme approved within the tenth five-year plan, which the ministry adopted to achieve sustainability and maximise returns in vital sectors,” he said.
Al Shukaili pointed out that the agricultural sector is engaging in extensive dialogue on the challenges and opportunities it faces, including creating new investment areas and managing agricultural cities and nurseries through the private sector. He also highlighted a key session of the Lab focused on regulating food exports and imports, and import substitution, which supports the localisation of food dependency — a strategic goal the ministry is pursuing.
He noted that Oman’s annual food bill amounts to approximately RO 3 billion, according to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI). “The ministry has successfully localised the first billion and is working under the eleventh five-year plan to achieve the localisation of the second billion,” Al Shukaili added.
The Food Security Lab 2025 stands as a vital platform where innovation, investment, and sustainability converge, reflecting Oman’s commitment to securing a resilient and self-reliant food future.