Minister Calls For Innovative Solutions To Address Food Security Challenges

(MENAFN- Gulf Times) The Minister of Environment and Climate Change, HE Dr Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Subaie called for innovative solutions to address the challenges in water resources and food security at an international conference Wednesday.
“The world is witnessing rapid changes and the effects of climate change are clear now. This threatens our water resources and affects our food production,” said Dr al-Subaie.
The minister was speaking at the opening session of 'International Conference on Water and Food Security in the Face of Climate Change: Challenges and Opportunities for Resilience ' organised by the University of Doha for Science and Technology ( UDST) in partnership with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and the Ministry of Municipality.“The strong link between water and food security shows the need for innovative solutions to address the challenges facing the future generations. The Arab region is one of the major areas affected by climate change as a result of rising temperatures, water scarcity, and land degradation. This requires intensifying efforts and adopting effective policies to ensure the sustainability of vital resources,” he explained.
The opening ceremony was attended by Dr Salem al-Naemi, president of UDST and several high-level officials and delegates. The event brought together researchers and industry leaders to discuss innovative solutions for water and food security challenges.
Dr al-Subaie said that the ministry attaches special importance to the National Adaptation Plan, which represents a comprehensive roadmap to address the challenges of climate change, as it focuses on enhancing the resilience of key sectors, such as water and agriculture.
“The plan prioritises strengthening the resilience of key sectors, particularly water and agriculture, through the implementation of effective strategies. These include optimising water resource management, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and safeguarding coastal ecosystems,” he noted.
At the three-day conference the minister highlighted that the Ministry's participation in this conference as a strategic partner underscores Qatar's commitment to achieving sustainable development and enhancing its response to climate change, in line with Qatar's vision of environmental protection and sustainability.
According to the minister, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change's strategy for 2024-2030 focuses on adapting to climate change by pursuing policies and initiatives aimed at mitigating its impacts on key sectors, including water and food. He stressed that the strategy is based on the values of leadership, sustainability, responsibility, cooperation, and transparency, and seeks to achieve strategic goals in the areas of preserving biodiversity, adapting to climate change, improving environmental quality, and enhancing environmental awareness.
Dr al-Naemi, commented: "Hosting this conference reflects our dedication to advancing research and innovation that aligns with Qatar's Third National Development Strategy and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. By bringing together experts, decision-makers, and students from around the world, we confirm Qatar's position as a global leader in using education and research to address critical water and food security and climate change challenges.”
The conference workshops offered participants hands-on training in topics such as connected farming using IoT for water management and machine learning approaches to food security. These sessions highlighted the role of technology and innovation in building sustainable solutions.
One of the conference's key highlights was the Arab Youth Competition, which received 106 submissions and showcased youth-led innovation projects tackling Food and Water Security, bringing together passionate young change makers from Arab Countries. The competition brought together participants from Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Oman, Algeria, Lebanon, Qatar, Egypt, and UAE, who presented topics about climate change impacts, food security, and water resource management. The winners were honoured at the opening ceremony.

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