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According to him, if the European Union were to attempt self-sufficiency in soy farming, for instance, it would take 137,000 sqm worth of plantations, not to mention the use of resources such as water. \u201cInternational trade offers a solution to ensuring steady food supplies. This means that no country in the world can afford not to complement domestic production with imported goods to provide sufficient food for their population,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n
United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) chief scientist designate Dr. Ismahane Elouafi (pictured above) believes that rethinking where food security investments are going is the way to ensure more intelligent local production. \u201cAre we wasting resources? We used to think everything was alright, but the system is flawed and inefficient. The UN meeting we will have in 2021 will be about making the food system more efficient.\u201d<\/p>\n
Elouafi said regions\u2019 profiles must be factored in when deciding what to grow. \u201cTo a great extent, whatever we need to do will depend on the region at hand. We need the correct ecosystem and the correct crop. Growing wheat in a region like the Arabian Peninsula would be a waste of resources. There are other much better suited crops. That\u2019s where we will bring in the diversity of species, and we must consider water usage as well,\u201d said the scientist, who\u2019s also CEO of the UAE\u2019s International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA). Elouafi also said partnerships between countries for science and trade are strategic, a case in point being the recently established ICBA-Embrapa agreement.<\/p>\n
Jacyr Costa Filho, a Board member at Grupo Tereos and president of Cosag Tereos and the Higher Agribusiness Council, said domestic production of items such as sugar have helped ensure food security throughout the pandemic. \u201cBrazil\u2019s port and logistics system has worked really well, and we are breaking an all-time record in exports of sugar, which is a staple of Arab culture. We could expand on these relations by establishing partnerships between Brazil and the consumer countries to complement local production,\u201d Costa Filho said.<\/p>\n Ricardo Santin, president at Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA), pointed out the established, long-term relations with Arabs in Brazilian halal-certified poultry trade. \u201cThe consumers tend to leave the pandemic demanding more trust and having more trust in brands. Both in companies and halal certifications,\u201d Santin said, adding that he expects to see more Arab investments in Brazil.<\/p>\n Henri Salem Sonbol from Saudi Arabia, CEO at International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), which operates investing in productive chains across the world, points out that COVID-19 came to prioritize the need to ensure the world food flow. \u201cAgriculture has always been our priority. We make programs to support producers in different member countries. We are called the cotton bank of Africa. We\u2019ve made large interventions supporting this and other crops,\u201d Sonbol said.<\/p>\n As for investments, Khalid Ahmed Mohammed AlMarzooqi, Commercial Activities director at Khalifa Industrial Zone (KIZAD), pointed out the world has focused more on Arabs and Africa. \u201cThe Arab bloc will grow by 3.3% in the food sector by 2023,\u201d he explained, pointing out that the change reflects the population and tourism growth in the region. \u201cIn fact, we import more than we produce. So, when we think in food security, we don\u2019t think in just one model, but in supply and local productions, too,\u201d he stressed.<\/p>\n The Economic Forum Brazil & Arab Countries is hosted by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) in partnership with the Union of Arab Chambers and the Arab League. The event started on Monday (19) and ends on Thursday (22). Check out the full coverage on\u00a0ANBA<\/a>.<\/p>\n Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum & Guilherme Miranda<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/WhatsApp-Image-2020-10-21-at-17.06.40-2-300x169.jpeg\")