Friday, March 29, 2024 | Ramadan 18, 1445 H
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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Agri-nutrients crucial for future of food security

Experts says nearly one in three people across the world – approximately 2.37 billion people – did not have access to adequate food in 2020
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MUSCAT: The role of agri-nutrients will be critical to the future of global food security, said speakers at the 11th virtual Agri-Nutrients Conference organised by the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) on Wednesday.


However, the agri-food chain, including producers, technology providers and farmers, as well as policymakers, would need to come together to ensure that agri-nutrients are used responsibly and efficiently, and take steps to lower their carbon footprint.


This was one of the key takeaways from day 1 of the event which is being held under the theme ‘Forging new avenues for a food secure future’. Conference speakers reiterated the vital role of agri-nutrients to help deliver nutrition to billions of people across the world. At the same time, they highlighted a series of formidable challenges facing the industry currently and discussed ways in which they can be addressed.


Oman-India Fertilizer Company (Omifco), which owns and operates a major ammonia and urea fertilizer plant at Sur in the Sultanate, is one of the key sponsors of the three-day forum.


In welcome remarks, Abdulrahman al Suwaidi, CEO, QAFCO, and Chairman, GPCA Agri-nutrients Committee, highlighted the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on global food security and urging governments to take comprehensive steps to develop and sustain food systems.


“The global prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity has been increasing slowly since 2014 and the estimated increase in 2020 alone was equivalent to that of the previous five years combined. Nearly one in three people across the world – approximately 2.37 billion people – did not have access to adequate food in 2020,” he told the audience.


“(Adding to this), global food supply chains have been severely affected by the pandemic and measures to control or mitigate the virus have impacted the pace of harvests in some parts of the world, leaving millions of seasonal workers without income,” he added.


“Factors like these, coupled with the reduced income of families due to the pandemic, have resulted in an increase in the number of people suffering from a lack of access to sufficient nutrition.”


Dr Nora Ourabah Haddad, FAO Representative to the Sultanate of Oman, echoed these remarks in a keynote address entitled, ‘Strengthening the foundation of the global food security agenda in the wake of the pandemic.’


The importance of the agri-nutrients industry was further stressed upon during the Fireside Chat. The current environment means that the world will not be able to meet its food production goals without the efficient and effective use of agri-nutrients, agreed speakers. However, this will come with its own set of challenges, as farmers face the decline of arable land and increasing water scarcity.


The agri-nutrients value chain is therefore faced with an important question ‘How to achieve higher crops yields, while improving the sustainability impact of agri-nutrients today and ensuring fewer nutrient losses to the environment?’


This will be the focus of the second day of the conference on September 16, which will see conference speakers discuss the role of collaboration, innovation, and advanced technology in lowering our environmental footprint.


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