UAE Food Security and COVID-19: A Challenge Met
The UAE Ministry of Economy has just been given new powers to implement a law that monitors and supports the provisioning of strategic food items across the Emirates. On March 30th, “President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has approved Federal Law №3 of 2020 regarding the regulation of the strategic stock of food commodities in the country, which is aimed at organising the food supplies in the event of crises, emergencies and disasters, as well as achieving food sustainability” a WAM press release announced.
This law outlines a joint effort between the UAE Ministry of Economy (MoE) and the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) to oversee both local producers and importers of strategically vital food commodities and ensure their preparedness in ensuring that the UAE population has physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food.
In order to ensure food security, the MoE and NCEMA have been given the power to “prepare reports, studies, statistics and the economic evaluation of the food commodities, estimate the volume of consumption, determine the surplus and deficit, prepare databases on the production and availability of food commodities in the country and countries of origin”, the WAM report states. Furthermore, all producers and importers will be required to register the location and condition of their food stocks here in the UAE, as well as consumption rates, to enable the government to establish and maintain an accurate database through this national emergency.
This law will be published in the official gazette in the coming weeks, but has already been signed by the President. What has not yet been released is what specific products are being considered to fall under this law by the Ministry of Economy. Although the UAE Food Security Office has established a number of products considered “strategic” in their Food Security Strategy, we anticipate that those products considered under the new law may differ somewhat, focusing on an earlier set of strategic commodities as defined by the Ministry of Economy.
Of all commodities, the country has plenty of stores in grains and pulses as many trading and processing companies exist in the UAE both on-shore and in the free zones. With this in mind, a greater focus is being made in ensuring continued supply of more perishable fresh fruit and vegetables with many key private-sector players doing their part to develop innovative solutions to keep supply chains moving and shelves stocked. Local producers, like Emirates Bio Farm have also played a key role in ensuring consumers have safe delivery options for fresh fruits and vegetables.
With a high food security index ranking, the UAE is well positioned to weather any disruption in food accessibility and availability. We believe the new law may play a major role to ensure economic access remains strong, and essentials remain affordable for all UAE residents. As His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces in a recently released video said, “food and medicine are a red line” and the UAE continues to demonstrate its agility and resilience in dealing with these trying times.
