Dubai to Host Global Experts at Food Innovation Conference 2024

The Food Innovation Conference 2024 is set to kick off tomorrow, Monday 13th May, in Dubai.

The event, running until 15th May, is organised by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) and the World Economic Forum (WEF), under the theme “Reimagining Future Food Systems”.

Hosted at the Museum of the Future and Emirates Towers in Dubai, the Food Innovation Conference gathers over 150 international experts, academics, businesses, and farmers to discuss resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food systems. Panels focus on leveraging technology, fostering global cooperation, and addressing trends in sustainable food systems, including AI and data usage.

Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi of MBRGI highlighted the event’s alignment with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s vision, aiming to foster innovative solutions for cost-efficient food systems that aid underprivileged communities amidst crises, natural disasters, and climate change, supporting global humanitarian efforts and refugee aid.

“The conference is testament to the close cooperation between MBRGI and the World Economic Forum, and their joint visions for utilising the huge potential of AI and advanced food tech to meet the growing global food needs, and creating the frameworks necessary to institutionalise this approach while encouraging research centers and innovators to develop solutions that address this noble cause,”

he said.

“The conference aligns with MBRGI’s mission of serving humanity and improving lives, as well as the main objectives of the Food Innovation Hub UAE, launched in late 2023, further affirming the UAE’s commitment as a key contributor to the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2023,”

he added.

The Food Innovation Conference aims to facilitate knowledge exchange and capacity building through the Food Innovation Hubs Global Initiative, showcasing national and global technology innovations for sustainable food systems. Supported by the World Economic Forum and MBRGI, it fosters partnerships across public and private sectors, funding local initiatives and promoting global knowledge sharing.

Keynote speeches and panel discussions feature prominent figures like Dr. Amna Al Dahak, Tania Strauss, and Asma Khan. The event includes sessions on advancing global innovations and reimagining future food systems. An open exhibition on May 13th and 14th offers interactive experiences to explore modern food technologies and innovative products.

The Food Innovation Hubs Leadership Committee meeting will be held on the sidelines of the conference on 14 May, following an agreement signed between MBRGI and the World Economic Forum in Davos 2022, under which Dubai is designated the international headquarters for the Hubs annual meeting.

Field trips on the last day, 15th May, will take participants to multiple sites including farms and production plants, to highlight innovative practices adopted in the UAE to achieve food sustainability, while exploring areas of cooperation and investment.

News Source: Emirates News Agency