{"id":299630,"date":"2021-10-03T16:44:13","date_gmt":"2021-10-03T19:44:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/?p=299630"},"modified":"2021-10-05T14:17:04","modified_gmt":"2021-10-05T17:17:04","slug":"economic-development-linked-with-sustainability-a-challenge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/en\/economic-development-linked-with-sustainability-a-challenge\/","title":{"rendered":"Economic development linked with sustainability a challenge"},"content":{"rendered":"

S\u00e3o Paulo \u2013 Feeding the world and bringing about economic development combined with sustainability. This is one of the world\u2019s current challenges and was the topic of a session in this Sunday (3)\u2019s Brazil-UAE: Amazon Economic Forum held by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce<\/strong> (ABCC) in Dubai in parallel to the world exhibition Expo 2020.<\/p>\n

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Cooperation was the topic of discussions<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The director of the Department for the Promotion of Agribusiness of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, Alexandre Pe\u00f1a Ghisleni (pictured above<\/em>) addressed the topic when opening the panel Cooperation between the United Arab Emirates and Brazil in Food Security and Sustainable Development that he participated in remotely. He believes that the challenge of the demographic shift, food security and limited resources can be overcome with international cooperation.<\/p>\n

According to Ghisleni, Brazil is in a good position to participate in this. \u201cWe have the potential to sustainably expand production and doing so through science and innovation by increasing productivity and recovering lands,\u201d he said. Because sustainably assuring food security is a challenge taken very seriously, the director said.<\/p>\n

He said the key to successfully providing food in a sustainable manner is science and innovation. Ghisleni argued for a joint effort between Brazil and UAE to reach this goal and suggested that the bioeconomy could be a path towards sustainable production. He wants to carry on the talks on the topic with the private sector and governments.<\/p>\n

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Alyafei spoke about the UAE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Food and Agriculture College at UAE University vice dean Mohammed Alyafei indicated that his country wants to see sustainability across the whole industry of the foods it consumes. \u201cSustainability is a commitment we have that is combined with development,\u201d the scholar said. Alyafei said the UAE wants to ensure a sustainable system taking into account environmental, social and economic aspects. \u201cWe have to produce more while considering the environment,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The vice dean added the Arab country has a climate change plan 2017-2050 to mitigate the risks and adapt agriculture to the phenomenon. Pointing out the coming world demographic growth, Alyafei mentioned agriculture as an emission factor and a solution, too. \u201cAgriculture is part of the problem and part of the solution in climate change and production sustainability,\u201d he said. The vice dean believes the use of cutting-edge technology must be strategic to produce more and more sustainably.<\/p>\n

ABCC secretary-general and CEO Tamer Mansour moderated the session and told Alyafei that the UAE is progressing down many paths. \u201cWe could progress together,\u201d he said. The secretary-general pointed out that the UAE has grown as a destination of exports from Brazil and not just because of the country\u2019s consumption but because the country is an export hub.<\/p>\n

Halal is already sustainable<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mansour said that, as a supplier to the UAE export hub, Brazil is concerned with providing halal raw materials and products. Halal means fit for Muslim consumption. Halal certification executives attending the forum said the halal is in itself sustainable.<\/p>\n

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Tamer Mansour moderated panel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cToday we practice sustainability through halal as we\u2019ve always had, since the beginning, and we keep practicing it because it\u2019s by respecting the environment that we can reach a better future, a better world,\u201d said Federation of Muslim Associations in Brazil (FAMBRAS) chair \u00a0Mohamed Zoghbi.<\/p>\n

Certifier Cdial Halal CEO Ali Saifi said Brazil has shown its capacity of continuous improvement. He said that there have been many changes in the requirements around halal certification over the last years and that now they are no longer just about religion but sustainability, traceability, quality, and animal welfare as well. \u201cI believe we\u2019re in the right path,\u201d Saifi said, arguing for the production and supply of higher value-added products from Brazil in addition to commodities.<\/p>\n

Elite Agro<\/strong><\/p>\n

Due to the size of the country\u2019s production, Brazil is a sought-after partner for Arab companies that operate with agribusiness. UAE-based food production and distribution company Elite Agro spoke a little about its relationship with Brazil. The company\u2019s managing director Abdulmonem Al\u00a0Marzooqi said that Elite Agro buys poultry and tropical fruit from Brazil. He mentioned other partnerships such as a Brazilian institute trying to help the UAE to solve issues with its date trees.<\/p>\n

Halal tourism<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Audience from Brazil and the UAE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

National secretary for Attraction of Investments, Partnerships and Concessions of the Ministry of Tourism of Brazil, D\u00e9bora Moraes da Cunha Gon\u00e7alves, participated in the panel, too, and spoke about the Brazilian interest in attracting Arab and Muslim tourists, as well as investments from Arab businesspeople in tourist developments in Brazil. The secretary believes that restaurants and big resorts in Brazil could easily adapt to halal to receive Muslim tourists. Tamer Mansour said that Brazil demosntrated during the World Cup and the Olympics that were held in the country in 2014 and 2016, respectively, how it is capable of welcoming tourists.<\/p>\n

Forum<\/strong><\/p>\n

The forum was held by the ABCC in partnership with the Ministry of Economy of the UAE, the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Embassy of Brazil in the UAE, and the Dubai Chamber. The discussions took place in the Conrad Hotel in Dubai.<\/p>\n

Read more on the Brazil \u2013 UAE Amazon Economic Sustainability Forum:<\/p>\n