New Zealand’s Leadership in Sustainable Food System Shines During Food, Agriculture and Livelihoods Week at Expo 2020 Dubai

Posted on 10th February 2022

H.E. Dr. Shaikha Al Dhaheri, Secretary General, Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) and Essa Abdul Rahman Al Hashemi, Head of the UAE Food and Water Security Office (UAE), will share progress updates on the UAE’s National Food Security Strategy, and give insight into how the UAE and New Zealand are collaborating to identify more sustainable uses of water resources for local crops.

Other topics being covered during the forum include the importance of public-private collaborations in the global agricultural ecosystem, effective use of resources for farmers, modern food safety systems, livestock productivity, and the role of technology in solving challenges to global food systems.

New Zealand was selected by Expo 2020 Dubai and Dubai Chamber to co-curate the business forum because of its leadership in sustainable food systems, smart applied science and proven track record of producing high value products. New Zealand is recognised globally as one of the most progressive agricultural and aqua cultural nations – its food sector feeds around 40 million global consumers each year, eight times its population.

A delegation of some of New Zealand’s top experts in sustainable food systems will lead discussions during the forum and showcase examples of joint research initiatives that are supporting a more reliable supply of nutritious food to the global population. Among them are:

Damien O’Conner, Minister of Agriculture and Minister for Trade and Export Growth – New Zealand Government (available virtually). He will discuss the transition to positive food systems and how natural resources can be utilised sustainably.

Dr Ayesha Verrall, Minister for Food Safety, New Zealand Government (available virtually). She can provide an overview of the importance of a robust and international standards-based food safety system – from policy, to regulation and operational systems designed to reduce risk and waste, and enhance export capabilities.

Suzie Newman, Head – International Development & Aid, Plant and Food Research (New Zealand), takes a closer look at how small-hold farmers can use resources more effectively to enhance yields and economic returns. She will be joined by project leads from current field work cases in India and Vietnam.

Sharl Liebergreen, Consultant at world-leading agribusiness consulting firm AbacusBio (New Zealand), will be joined by Dr. Mamdouh Alsharari, Deputy Director General – Animal Production General Department, at the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture. Their discussion will focus on sharing best practice to solve challenges around improving long-term productivity of local livestock in KSA.

Joining the Business Forum virtually, will be Sue Bidrose, CEO of AgResearch – a leading New Zealand Crown Research Institute, as well as Volker Kuntzsch, CEO, of Cawthron – New Zealand’s largest independent science organisation. Bidrose will join the discussion on modern food safety systems while Kuntzsch will discuss the role of technology, governments and businesses in reshaping the future of food and agriculture.

Several other New Zealand Agritech companies will also present during the Business Forum and attend the Future Food Summit taking place from 23 to 24 February at Expo’s Dubai Exhibition Centre. Among them are Gallagher, a global leader in the innovation, manufacture and marketing of animal management, security, fuel systems and contract manufacturing solutions, who will speak about their virtual fencing solution eShepherd^TM; and LIC, a herd improvement and agri-technology co-operative that empowers farmers through the delivery of superior genetics and technology- including using satellites for pasture evaluation. For more details about full New Zealand delegation attending Expo’s Food, Agriculture and Livelihoods Week, visit New Zealand Agritech in the UAE | NZTE.

When: 21 February 2021
Where: Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) Hall 1 North, Expo 2020 Dubai

Other New Zealand activities during Food, Agriculture and Livelihoods Week:

New Zealand’s leadership in sustainable food systems and agritech innovations will be shared throughout the thematic week at Expo 2020 Dubai with a number of the country’s foremost scientific experts presenting at World Majlis events.

New Zealand Experts at World Majlis Events
Food Agriculture and Livelihoods Week, Expo 2020 Dubai
Kelvin Wickham
CEO AMENA Fonterra

Farms of the Future: Feeding the Planet with Technology
Australia Pavilion
17 February, 4-6pm

By 2050 we will need to feed two billion more people. How can the world ensure the availability of food while simultaneously cutting down on the environmental harm caused by agriculture? What future innovations will help farms be more productive, while reducing their environmental impact?

Associate Professor Miranda Mirosa, Department of Food Science, University of Otago New Zealand …together with Louise Nash, Founder and CEO of Circularity.

The Value of Food: Rethinking the Cycle of Food Waste(co-curated by New Zealand and Expo 2020 Dubai)
Terra Pavilion
20 February, 4-6pm.

Approximately one third of the food we produce each year is lost or goes to waste. This creates massive inequalities within populations, causing problems of obesity in some places while, elsewhere, others starve. Moreover, there is an environmental impact. How can we innovate and invest to make supply chains more efficient and reduce waste? How can we make the most of the food that is produced before it is gone

Dr. Suzie Newman
Head – International Development & Aid at New Zealand Crown Research Institute Plant and Food Research

Women’s World Majlis: From Farmer to Boss Lady:Developing a Gender-equitable Agricultural Sector
Women’s Pavilion
21 February, 3-4.30pm.

Women produce more than 50% worldwide, and up to 80% of national output in some countries, yet women are barely represented in the rest of the global food value chain. This session will explore gender equitable employment and decision-making in the food and agriculture sector, and the impact that gender-inclusive agriculture has on ending hunger and poverty and promoting sustainable development.

Dr Brent Clothier Principal Scientist with Plant & Food Research and President of Royal Society Te Apārangi

Food for Thought: How We Will Eat in the Future
Italy Pavilion
22 February, 4-6:00pm

Food is living knowledge and tradition, passed down through generations. As we tackle the challenge of exploring new food to feed a growing global population within the limits of our planet, the question of what are we going to eat in the future is also a matter of balancing culture and innovation.

New Zealand Crown Research Institute, Plant and Food Research, will also exhibit its “From This Land” photo-story exhibition at the New Zealand Pavilion from 17-19 February. Showcasing its partnerships in Vietnam and Cambodia, the exhibition comprises 18 portraits, other photos, text, video and a podcast series, from four agricultural development projects to give Expo visitors insight into the experiences and dreams of farmers, agronomists, business-owners, scientists and others as they work together to create more sustainable food systems.

All New Zealand entities will have representatives available for media interviews or comment during Food, Agriculture and Livelihoods Week.