Arab seafood industry entering global markets
01 May 2010
JEDDAH - The nascent seafood industry in the Arab World has good prospects of growth and expansion as public awareness on the health benefits of sea food consumptions, said a seafood representatives from the region.
"The seafood industry in the Gulf is developing and it is mostly because of change in diet. There is a focus on the Middle East on healthier eating and seafood provides a healthy balanced diet," Kuwait News Agency quoted Laurence Coo, director of communications of the privately-owned Saudi National Prawn Company as saying at the three-day Brussels Seafood Fair that ended on Thursday.
The fair has attracted buyers and sellers from over 140 countries around the world with over 1600 exhibitors.
Situated on the Red Sea coast south of Jeddah, NPC is said to be the largest fully integrated desert prawn farms in the world.
The company has 12 farms and each farm has 10 ponds which produces 15,000 tons of white prawn sold in the Kingdom and exported around the world. "We believe certainly there is a future of seafood industry in the Gulf. There is obviously interest in places like Yemen and Oman anyway with farming operations. I believe that there is potential in desert areas. We are looking at opportunities and new projects," said Cooke".
Ahmad R. Al-Balla, managing director of NPC, said "we cover the local market and the GCC and about 70 percent of our products is exported to Asia and Europe." He said that NPC which employs 3000 people is completely self sufficient in every facet from power and water through to pond, plant and infrastructure.
We now have locally-produced high standard products which are readily available in fresh format. We are seeing that there is a growing interest in our products in the region," Al-Balla pointed out. "We are launching products in the regional markets visible to the people and natural health food concerns everybody. In GCC countries people have the money and naturally they will select the good food once it is available," he added.
The Saudi seafood entrepreneur said they have been participating in the Brussels seafood fair for the last six, seven years and "Inshallah will continue to come."
© The Saudi Gazette 2010
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100501050536/Arab%20seafood%20industry%20entering%20global%20markets%20/
Friday, April 30, 2010
The high cost of ground water depletion
Liwa farmer has to dig deeper bore wells and spend extra money on desalination
Published: 00:00 May 1, 2010
Mohammad Saeed Al Hameli, a prominent Emirati farmer in Liwa at his farm which produces about 250 tonnes of vegetables per month during the season.
Liwa: He deepened his bore well in his farm by 200 feet during the past 18 years, in search of water which has already turned saline.
"No regular rain here…so the ground water is depleting and getting saline," said Mohammad Saeed Al Hameli, 40, a prominent Emirati farmer in Liwa in Al Gharbia (formerly western region) when Gulf News visited his farm recently. The farm produces 250 tonnes of vegetables every month during the season.
The situation has prompted him to establish two desalination plants and introduce water saving farming techniques in the farm.
Al Hameli first dug a 100 feet deep bore well in 1992 which was further deepened into 140 feet in 2000 and 300 feet in 2009.
"But, I have to say the situation is better here, some of my friends in Al Ain told me they dug 1,000 feet deep bore well," he said.
Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi (EAD) had warned recently that emirate's ground water will be fully depleted within 50 years, if the water consumption was not controlled. EAD has drawn a water resources management project to protect the ground water resources. .
The agricultural season begins in October and ends by March. "During the summer the produce goes down by 40 per cent," he said.
Variety of vegetables
Various varieties of vegetables such as tomato, cabbage, cauliflower, pumpkin, capsicum and cucumber are grown in 310 greenhouses with 75 employees.
In 2004, Al Hameli found the water from the bore well was saline, so he made two desalination plants costing around Dh150,000. "That's an additional expense farmers have to incur for pure water; Dh 2,000 is the monthly operational costs of a plant," he said.
The salinity goes up due to lack of rain , he says.
"In 2004, the salinity was 4,000 ppm (parts per million) which was doubled to 8,000 ppm in 2009."
He said due to these extra expenses he doesn't find farming profitable. "Still I continue it for the passion… It may give returns any time in [the] future," said Al Hameli who started farming in 1992.
A graduate in administration from HCT (Higher Colleges of Technology) and an employee with an Abu Dhabi government organisation, he sees farming as a passion.
That passion takes him into international agricultural exhibitions.
Al Hameli visited such an exhibition in China recently.
"Considering the shortage of fresh water, water- saving farming techniques like hydroponics are the only solution," he says. That realisation took him to an exhibition in Singapore which showcased soil-less farming techniques.
"I learnt about hydroponics [the cultivation of plants in a nutrient liquid with or without gravel or another supporting medium] from there and introduced its two versions — pond hydroponics and ‘A' shaped hydroponics — in the farm one and half years ago," he said.
The system saves at least 80 per cent of the water used for irrigation.
He has set aside 40 greenhouses for hydroponics. The rest of the 270 greenhouses work on drip irrigation system. "I read a lot of books and material on [the] internet to enhance [my] water-saving technique," he said.
Al Hameli feels a sense of fulfilment when he sees fully grown vegetables in different colours and sizes.
"The farm produces around two tonnes of capsicum per month, in seven colours," he said.
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/environment/the-high-cost-of-ground-water-depletion-1.620414
Liwa farmer has to dig deeper bore wells and spend extra money on desalination
Published: 00:00 May 1, 2010
Mohammad Saeed Al Hameli, a prominent Emirati farmer in Liwa at his farm which produces about 250 tonnes of vegetables per month during the season.
Liwa: He deepened his bore well in his farm by 200 feet during the past 18 years, in search of water which has already turned saline.
"No regular rain here…so the ground water is depleting and getting saline," said Mohammad Saeed Al Hameli, 40, a prominent Emirati farmer in Liwa in Al Gharbia (formerly western region) when Gulf News visited his farm recently. The farm produces 250 tonnes of vegetables every month during the season.
The situation has prompted him to establish two desalination plants and introduce water saving farming techniques in the farm.
Al Hameli first dug a 100 feet deep bore well in 1992 which was further deepened into 140 feet in 2000 and 300 feet in 2009.
"But, I have to say the situation is better here, some of my friends in Al Ain told me they dug 1,000 feet deep bore well," he said.
Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi (EAD) had warned recently that emirate's ground water will be fully depleted within 50 years, if the water consumption was not controlled. EAD has drawn a water resources management project to protect the ground water resources. .
The agricultural season begins in October and ends by March. "During the summer the produce goes down by 40 per cent," he said.
Variety of vegetables
Various varieties of vegetables such as tomato, cabbage, cauliflower, pumpkin, capsicum and cucumber are grown in 310 greenhouses with 75 employees.
In 2004, Al Hameli found the water from the bore well was saline, so he made two desalination plants costing around Dh150,000. "That's an additional expense farmers have to incur for pure water; Dh 2,000 is the monthly operational costs of a plant," he said.
The salinity goes up due to lack of rain , he says.
"In 2004, the salinity was 4,000 ppm (parts per million) which was doubled to 8,000 ppm in 2009."
He said due to these extra expenses he doesn't find farming profitable. "Still I continue it for the passion… It may give returns any time in [the] future," said Al Hameli who started farming in 1992.
A graduate in administration from HCT (Higher Colleges of Technology) and an employee with an Abu Dhabi government organisation, he sees farming as a passion.
That passion takes him into international agricultural exhibitions.
Al Hameli visited such an exhibition in China recently.
"Considering the shortage of fresh water, water- saving farming techniques like hydroponics are the only solution," he says. That realisation took him to an exhibition in Singapore which showcased soil-less farming techniques.
"I learnt about hydroponics [the cultivation of plants in a nutrient liquid with or without gravel or another supporting medium] from there and introduced its two versions — pond hydroponics and ‘A' shaped hydroponics — in the farm one and half years ago," he said.
The system saves at least 80 per cent of the water used for irrigation.
He has set aside 40 greenhouses for hydroponics. The rest of the 270 greenhouses work on drip irrigation system. "I read a lot of books and material on [the] internet to enhance [my] water-saving technique," he said.
Al Hameli feels a sense of fulfilment when he sees fully grown vegetables in different colours and sizes.
"The farm produces around two tonnes of capsicum per month, in seven colours," he said.
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/environment/the-high-cost-of-ground-water-depletion-1.620414
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Oman: Govt to boost wheat output
29 April 2010
MUSCAT: Following a drastic hike in the price of wheat in global markets, the government is mulling offering incentives, and technology, to grow more wheat locally.
Sources say productivity of wheat per unit area has increased from 900kg in 2007-08 to 1,600kg in 2008-09, but the global scenario is not encouraging.
According to International Grain Council (IGC), global wheat production may dip 21 million tonnes to 653 million tonnes in 2010-11 due to a drop in output in the US.
The Sultanate imports 99 per cent of its wheat requirement from countries like Argentina, Kazakhstan, Mexico and Australia.
Sources in the Agriculture Ministry say low wheat production has been a cause of concern for many years but a project recently initiated to increase output is yielding "fairly good results".
Meanwhile, alarmed over the slump in wheat production and rising costs, a ministry official said, "Drought is the most important challenge and efforts are on to address the issue on a war footing."
"The cultivation of wheat under local conditions in the Sultanate needs extensive management with specific programmes and clearly defined objectives.
"A plan to increase productivity is being implemented by farmers in main production areas to achieve sustainability, and thereby increase the wheat acreage," the official said.
According to a recent family income and expenditure field survey of both Omani and expatriate households conducted by the National Economy Ministry, average per capita consumption of flour and related products in the Sultanate was 33.7 per cent.
Lesser wheat acreage
In Oman, the area under wheat cultivation in the eighties and beginning of nineties was 2,000 acres, which has gone down considerably to 800 acres in recent years.
Expansion in yield of other crops and farmers searching of greener pastures -- extra cash -- while abandoning wheat has contributed to declining wheat acreage, according to the Agriculture Ministry.
Incentives
The ministry, in the mid-eighties, had initiated an action plan to enhance production of wheat. Funds for breeding improved varieties and seeds were also made available to farmers for free. However, the project was slow in implementation, and production declined.
"The Ministry of Agriculture provides seeds and machinery free to farmers willing to implement these projects, thus greatly reducing costs and improving quality and providing an important commodity of strategic goods in the markets of the Sultanate as a producer of wheat for domestic consumption," said a senior official in the ministry. -With inputs from Fahad Al Mukrashi
By Aftab H. Kola
© Times of Oman 2010
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100429040441/Oman%3A%20Govt%20to%20boost%20wheat%20output%20%20/
29 April 2010
MUSCAT: Following a drastic hike in the price of wheat in global markets, the government is mulling offering incentives, and technology, to grow more wheat locally.
Sources say productivity of wheat per unit area has increased from 900kg in 2007-08 to 1,600kg in 2008-09, but the global scenario is not encouraging.
According to International Grain Council (IGC), global wheat production may dip 21 million tonnes to 653 million tonnes in 2010-11 due to a drop in output in the US.
The Sultanate imports 99 per cent of its wheat requirement from countries like Argentina, Kazakhstan, Mexico and Australia.
Sources in the Agriculture Ministry say low wheat production has been a cause of concern for many years but a project recently initiated to increase output is yielding "fairly good results".
Meanwhile, alarmed over the slump in wheat production and rising costs, a ministry official said, "Drought is the most important challenge and efforts are on to address the issue on a war footing."
"The cultivation of wheat under local conditions in the Sultanate needs extensive management with specific programmes and clearly defined objectives.
"A plan to increase productivity is being implemented by farmers in main production areas to achieve sustainability, and thereby increase the wheat acreage," the official said.
According to a recent family income and expenditure field survey of both Omani and expatriate households conducted by the National Economy Ministry, average per capita consumption of flour and related products in the Sultanate was 33.7 per cent.
Lesser wheat acreage
In Oman, the area under wheat cultivation in the eighties and beginning of nineties was 2,000 acres, which has gone down considerably to 800 acres in recent years.
Expansion in yield of other crops and farmers searching of greener pastures -- extra cash -- while abandoning wheat has contributed to declining wheat acreage, according to the Agriculture Ministry.
Incentives
The ministry, in the mid-eighties, had initiated an action plan to enhance production of wheat. Funds for breeding improved varieties and seeds were also made available to farmers for free. However, the project was slow in implementation, and production declined.
"The Ministry of Agriculture provides seeds and machinery free to farmers willing to implement these projects, thus greatly reducing costs and improving quality and providing an important commodity of strategic goods in the markets of the Sultanate as a producer of wheat for domestic consumption," said a senior official in the ministry. -With inputs from Fahad Al Mukrashi
By Aftab H. Kola
© Times of Oman 2010
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100429040441/Oman%3A%20Govt%20to%20boost%20wheat%20output%20%20/
BankMuscat rolls out electronic card payment at Ministry of Agriculture
29 April 2010
MUSCAT -- BankMuscat, the leading financial services provider in the Sultanate, recently signed an agreement with the Ministry of Agriculture to introduce electronic card payment facility for all fee-based services offered by the Ministry.
Sayyid Mohammed bin Soud al Busaidy, Director-General of Administrative and Financial Affairs at the Ministry of Agriculture, and Sulaiman bin Hamed al Harthy, Group DGM, Consumer Banking, signed the agreement.
Putting in place an effective and secure platform for electronic card payment at the ministry, the new facility marks a major milestone as all bank cards carrying Visa or MasterCard affiliation can be used as the mode of payment at the counters.
Commenting on the facility, Sulaiman al Harthy said: "BankMuscat is proud to offer its state-of-the-art card acquiring facility for the Ministry of Agriculture.
The card acquiring service reflects the bank's commitment to work closely with government agencies in improving the financial infrastructure in the country.
Ushering in convenience for customers and eliminating cash transactions, the new facility streamlines payment and improves the delivery of government services. The ministry's association with BankMuscat in launching this service ensures that the facility will be effectively and professionally managed.
The feedback on BankMuscat's card-acquiring support for goods and services offered by the government has been very positive. The card payment facility is presently available at the Royal Oman Police (ROP) directorates, Muscat Municipality, Dhofar Municipality, the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Housing, Ministry of Justice, and Public Prosecution departments across the country.
Ever since BankMuscat commenced its card acquiring operations in 2002, many milestones have been achieved with the support of partners and customers. Presently, BankMuscatBankMuscatLoading... is the largest acquirer and issuer of cards in Oman.
Marking yet another pioneering step, BankMuscat was chosen as a partner to launch the e-Purse project, a state-of-the-art 'Cash on Card' solution involving the electronic chip-based National ID card and Resident Cards.
Establishing a strong network of government and commercial entities, BankMuscatBankMuscatLoading... has deployed over 4,500 point of sales (PoS) card acquiring terminals across the country to support electronic payment in the country and continues to expand rapidly.
By Staff Reporter
© Oman Daily Observer 2010
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100429035245/BankMuscat%20rolls%20out%20electronic%20card%20payment%20at
%20Ministry%20of%20Agriculture%20/
29 April 2010
MUSCAT -- BankMuscat, the leading financial services provider in the Sultanate, recently signed an agreement with the Ministry of Agriculture to introduce electronic card payment facility for all fee-based services offered by the Ministry.
Sayyid Mohammed bin Soud al Busaidy, Director-General of Administrative and Financial Affairs at the Ministry of Agriculture, and Sulaiman bin Hamed al Harthy, Group DGM, Consumer Banking, signed the agreement.
Putting in place an effective and secure platform for electronic card payment at the ministry, the new facility marks a major milestone as all bank cards carrying Visa or MasterCard affiliation can be used as the mode of payment at the counters.
Commenting on the facility, Sulaiman al Harthy said: "BankMuscat is proud to offer its state-of-the-art card acquiring facility for the Ministry of Agriculture.
The card acquiring service reflects the bank's commitment to work closely with government agencies in improving the financial infrastructure in the country.
Ushering in convenience for customers and eliminating cash transactions, the new facility streamlines payment and improves the delivery of government services. The ministry's association with BankMuscat in launching this service ensures that the facility will be effectively and professionally managed.
The feedback on BankMuscat's card-acquiring support for goods and services offered by the government has been very positive. The card payment facility is presently available at the Royal Oman Police (ROP) directorates, Muscat Municipality, Dhofar Municipality, the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Housing, Ministry of Justice, and Public Prosecution departments across the country.
Ever since BankMuscat commenced its card acquiring operations in 2002, many milestones have been achieved with the support of partners and customers. Presently, BankMuscatBankMuscatLoading... is the largest acquirer and issuer of cards in Oman.
Marking yet another pioneering step, BankMuscat was chosen as a partner to launch the e-Purse project, a state-of-the-art 'Cash on Card' solution involving the electronic chip-based National ID card and Resident Cards.
Establishing a strong network of government and commercial entities, BankMuscatBankMuscatLoading... has deployed over 4,500 point of sales (PoS) card acquiring terminals across the country to support electronic payment in the country and continues to expand rapidly.
By Staff Reporter
© Oman Daily Observer 2010
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100429035245/BankMuscat%20rolls%20out%20electronic%20card%20payment%20at
%20Ministry%20of%20Agriculture%20/
Green and clean
Thursday, Apr 29, 2010
How big is the organic market?
The world's organic food market has been growing at a rate of 20-24 per cent annually.
The organic industry is estimated to have generated sales of $32 billion (Dh117.44 billion) in 2009. In the GCC, the market is valued at around $300 million (Dh1.1 billion). The global market grew by 10.9 per cent in 2007, reaching $43.5 billion (Dh159.6 billion). In 2012, this market is projected to have a value of $66.8 billion (Dh245 billion), a 53.6 per cent increase since 2007.
Although currently only a small number of UAE farms grows organic produce, the government has set a target of 3,000 hectares of agricultural land to be dedicated to organic farming. The most popular organic produce within the UAE is baby food, while fruits, vegetables and breakfast cereals are also big sellers.
Source: freshplaza.com and Alyasra Food Co
Certification
Certification for organic farming is done through the UAE Ministry of Agriculture.
Farms that want to become organic are inspected unannounced regularly.
The soil and crops are both tested. No pesticides or insecticides can be used. The fertiliser must also be organic.
There must be a diversity in crops and animals and they must not be from traditional intensive farming stock.
All seeds and plants used on the farm need to have an organic certification. Crops must acclimatise with environmental conditions.
Municipal waste water must not be used as it contains chemicals and heavy metals like mercury.?Source: THE UAE Ministry of Environment and Water
60
the varieties of vegetables grown at Nazwa
Dubai A passion for healthy food was the driving force behind turning a once desolate part of the desert into one of UAE's biggest organic farms.
The 42-acre Nazwa Organic Farm sits just off the Dubai-Hatta Road, around 40km out of Dubai, and produces over 60 varieties of vegetables, including potatoes, three varieties of capsicums and strawberries.
For the last decade it has been delivering its produce to residents in the Arabian Ranches, but has now expanded its operation with a farm shop at Umm Suqeim, off Al Manara Road.
Sandra Alonso, a Swiss expat in the Arabian Ranches, has been ordering vegetable boxes since the turn of the year. "The vegetables are harvested everyday and are very fresh. It's has no chemicals and that makes it unique. You just can't get that from supermarkets."
Fellow Ranches resident, Anna Hayworth, a British expat, has been shopping at the new Umm Suqeim store since it opened this month. "It's wonderful. You park up and the smell of basil wafts through the air," she said.
For Abdullah Saeed Abdullah Belhab, the Emirati owner of the farm, it has been a labour of love that is now on the verge of becoming a viable business proposition.
Shielded from the noise and dust of nearby roads, the farm has a mix of giant air-conditioned (30° Celsius) greenhouses with rows of green crops. It also has an area for chickens. "A lot of hard work has gone into making this farm into what it is now. It's been a real passion for me and now we want to take our produce to more people," Belhab said.
unique aspect
The produce is delivered twice a week to around 170 customers at Arabian Ranches, more often by the farm's General Manager, Elena Kinane, who has been living in the UAE for 13 years and is now deeply involved in the business.
"The unique thing about the farm as compared to big European organic farms is that we don't use any chemicals on our produce. Many people don't know that the organic vegetables they buy from the supermarkets are treated with chemicals to preserve them during the long journey from Europe. This means that the vegetables we produce cannot be transported long distances and must be eaten on the same day to enjoy their freshness," she said.
The impact of not using pesticides and insecticides is that less is produced, which in turn pushes up the cost of the vegetables.
"We could charge a lot more for what we produce, but we don't because we want to encourage people to eat healthy organic food and to do that you must offer quality produce at attractive price.
"Commercial vegetables appear bigger because they are mostly water. What people don't realise is that the longer a vegetable or fruit is produced the more it loses its nutrients. So when people think they are eating healthily they are not," Elena added.
However, going 100 per cent organic is risky. With no chemicals to protect crops from the hot and humid Dubai summer, the produce can easily get spoiled. The farm's entire broccoli crop, for example, was ruined after a sudden change in weather. "Over the last decade we did a lot of trial and error methods to find out what works best in this climate," she said.
There are considerable start-up costs with each of the new 45 greenhouses coming at a price of Dh5 million and a monthly electricity bill of Dh25,000.
A potential move to solar power may reduce this bill but will require a significant initial investment.
Running an organic farm in a desert presents obvious problems, including irrigating the crops. Nazwa uses around 50,000 gallons of water each day from its own underground well. Various kinds of vegetables are planted together so that they use up different nutrients in the soil, thereby allowing the soil to remain fertile.
"You'll see vegetables at various stages of growth. It's a labour-intensive job as we need to have people going around picking up the ripe ones. Generally, the quantities we produce are less when you compare us to other farms, but our aim is not to become a big commercial farm and export the produce. We want to stay rooted to selling vegetables to people in Dubai, thereby educating the younger generation on the benefits of going organic."
After two years of testing and inspections by the Ministry of Agriculture, the farm was given a gold certificate as it met the country's organic standards in September 2009.
"The standards we had to meet were higher than those in most European nations," Elena said.
The recognition has helped in expanding the business. The farm is now looking at cultivating more varieties of vegetables, even fruits for the first time and also increasing the number of chickens.
Work has also begun on a farm shop at Umm Suqeim, which will mean workers will harvest crops on a daily basis.
The produce will also be delivered to The Springs, The Greens, the Green Community, Emirates Hills and Motor City.
By Nadeem Hanif
© Gulf News 2010. All rights reserved.
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidGN_28042010_290451/Green%20and%20clean/
Thursday, Apr 29, 2010
How big is the organic market?
The world's organic food market has been growing at a rate of 20-24 per cent annually.
The organic industry is estimated to have generated sales of $32 billion (Dh117.44 billion) in 2009. In the GCC, the market is valued at around $300 million (Dh1.1 billion). The global market grew by 10.9 per cent in 2007, reaching $43.5 billion (Dh159.6 billion). In 2012, this market is projected to have a value of $66.8 billion (Dh245 billion), a 53.6 per cent increase since 2007.
Although currently only a small number of UAE farms grows organic produce, the government has set a target of 3,000 hectares of agricultural land to be dedicated to organic farming. The most popular organic produce within the UAE is baby food, while fruits, vegetables and breakfast cereals are also big sellers.
Source: freshplaza.com and Alyasra Food Co
Certification
Certification for organic farming is done through the UAE Ministry of Agriculture.
Farms that want to become organic are inspected unannounced regularly.
The soil and crops are both tested. No pesticides or insecticides can be used. The fertiliser must also be organic.
There must be a diversity in crops and animals and they must not be from traditional intensive farming stock.
All seeds and plants used on the farm need to have an organic certification. Crops must acclimatise with environmental conditions.
Municipal waste water must not be used as it contains chemicals and heavy metals like mercury.?Source: THE UAE Ministry of Environment and Water
60
the varieties of vegetables grown at Nazwa
Dubai A passion for healthy food was the driving force behind turning a once desolate part of the desert into one of UAE's biggest organic farms.
The 42-acre Nazwa Organic Farm sits just off the Dubai-Hatta Road, around 40km out of Dubai, and produces over 60 varieties of vegetables, including potatoes, three varieties of capsicums and strawberries.
For the last decade it has been delivering its produce to residents in the Arabian Ranches, but has now expanded its operation with a farm shop at Umm Suqeim, off Al Manara Road.
Sandra Alonso, a Swiss expat in the Arabian Ranches, has been ordering vegetable boxes since the turn of the year. "The vegetables are harvested everyday and are very fresh. It's has no chemicals and that makes it unique. You just can't get that from supermarkets."
Fellow Ranches resident, Anna Hayworth, a British expat, has been shopping at the new Umm Suqeim store since it opened this month. "It's wonderful. You park up and the smell of basil wafts through the air," she said.
For Abdullah Saeed Abdullah Belhab, the Emirati owner of the farm, it has been a labour of love that is now on the verge of becoming a viable business proposition.
Shielded from the noise and dust of nearby roads, the farm has a mix of giant air-conditioned (30° Celsius) greenhouses with rows of green crops. It also has an area for chickens. "A lot of hard work has gone into making this farm into what it is now. It's been a real passion for me and now we want to take our produce to more people," Belhab said.
unique aspect
The produce is delivered twice a week to around 170 customers at Arabian Ranches, more often by the farm's General Manager, Elena Kinane, who has been living in the UAE for 13 years and is now deeply involved in the business.
"The unique thing about the farm as compared to big European organic farms is that we don't use any chemicals on our produce. Many people don't know that the organic vegetables they buy from the supermarkets are treated with chemicals to preserve them during the long journey from Europe. This means that the vegetables we produce cannot be transported long distances and must be eaten on the same day to enjoy their freshness," she said.
The impact of not using pesticides and insecticides is that less is produced, which in turn pushes up the cost of the vegetables.
"We could charge a lot more for what we produce, but we don't because we want to encourage people to eat healthy organic food and to do that you must offer quality produce at attractive price.
"Commercial vegetables appear bigger because they are mostly water. What people don't realise is that the longer a vegetable or fruit is produced the more it loses its nutrients. So when people think they are eating healthily they are not," Elena added.
However, going 100 per cent organic is risky. With no chemicals to protect crops from the hot and humid Dubai summer, the produce can easily get spoiled. The farm's entire broccoli crop, for example, was ruined after a sudden change in weather. "Over the last decade we did a lot of trial and error methods to find out what works best in this climate," she said.
There are considerable start-up costs with each of the new 45 greenhouses coming at a price of Dh5 million and a monthly electricity bill of Dh25,000.
A potential move to solar power may reduce this bill but will require a significant initial investment.
Running an organic farm in a desert presents obvious problems, including irrigating the crops. Nazwa uses around 50,000 gallons of water each day from its own underground well. Various kinds of vegetables are planted together so that they use up different nutrients in the soil, thereby allowing the soil to remain fertile.
"You'll see vegetables at various stages of growth. It's a labour-intensive job as we need to have people going around picking up the ripe ones. Generally, the quantities we produce are less when you compare us to other farms, but our aim is not to become a big commercial farm and export the produce. We want to stay rooted to selling vegetables to people in Dubai, thereby educating the younger generation on the benefits of going organic."
After two years of testing and inspections by the Ministry of Agriculture, the farm was given a gold certificate as it met the country's organic standards in September 2009.
"The standards we had to meet were higher than those in most European nations," Elena said.
The recognition has helped in expanding the business. The farm is now looking at cultivating more varieties of vegetables, even fruits for the first time and also increasing the number of chickens.
Work has also begun on a farm shop at Umm Suqeim, which will mean workers will harvest crops on a daily basis.
The produce will also be delivered to The Springs, The Greens, the Green Community, Emirates Hills and Motor City.
By Nadeem Hanif
© Gulf News 2010. All rights reserved.
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidGN_28042010_290451/Green%20and%20clean/
Biosaline agriculture centre receives funds boost
The Dubai-based International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) has been given an injection of $13 million (Dh47.7m) in new grants. This includes $8m from the UAE Government and the Islamic Development Bank, and an approval for a further $5m from a consortium of four funds.
The centre signed an agreement two weeks ago to renew its financial support from the UAE Government and the Islamic Development Bank, both sole financiers of the centre since its inception.
They have now pledged their support once again with the $8m injection.
"Both parties will share the core budget of the centre, 60 per cent will be paid by the government and the rest by the Islamic Development Bank," said Dr Shawki Barghouti, the Director-General of the centre.
Meanwhile, the centre has attracted the attention of international movers and shakers in this new area of businesses, particularly in its quest for finding alternative salt-resistant crops, as well as for its research concerning the shortages of fresh water for agricultural and urban landscaping in the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia.
Dr Barghouti said the bodies that will put up the other $5m in grants include the International Fund for Agricultural Development in Rome, the Kuwait-based Arab Fund for Economic and Social Developments and the Opec Fund for International Development in Vienna.
Desalination
Among the projects the centre is currently involved in is one revolving around desalination management on a farm level. It is a project the centre is undertaking with the Ministry of Environment and WaterMinistry of Environment and WaterLoading....
"We have a large number of farmers in the UAE, who are using ground water for irrigation, and ground water has salt, and the salt has to be removed, but the question is how to manage this in a clean manner," said Dr Barghouti.
According to recent reports by the Japanese financial holding company Nomura, the UAE currently ranks second - regionally and internationally - after Saudi Arabia in its desalination capacity (9,046,824 cubic metres a day).?
This is in line with the UAE's vision of ambitious urban development. However, a consequence of such expansionist economic activities will be that more people are required and consumption will rise exponentially.
"So definitely water will be a major requirement for a growing population as well as economic activity. However, by increasing desalination, there is an increased investment in a technology that has environmental implications, one of them is the increased carbon dioxide footprint as more energy usage is needed," he said.
"Also, desalination requires certain investment in chemicals in order to process the water from the sea, and again, these chemicals are thrown again back in the sea ... it is all pollution."
According to Dr Barghouti, when one gallon of water is taken from the sea, only 30 per cent of it is drinkable, and the remainder, what is called the brine, has to be thrown back into the sea. This brine material only increases the sea's delicate balance of salts, therefore disrupting the whole ecosystem with major environmental implications.
"I am not against desalination because there is no other option, but it has to be done very carefully, and new technology has to be developed that produces less pollution. This is why there is a lot of talk to use the solar energy instead.
"There is also a need to design different types of desalination that reduce the impact of brine and the chemicals. It definitely needs more research, and requires more of public policy, regulations and standards, and this is what the government is trying to do," he said.
One particular problem in the UAE is the increasing number of farmers who are installing small desalination plants in order to improve the quality of the ground water for irrigation. The centre is currently studying the management of the ensuing brine, and how to stave off its contaminating, polluting effects on land and sea.
Salt crops
Dr Barghouti says the centre is also trying to develop new crops that can live on salt water, hence biosaline.
"In this regard, desalination is not required, but [farmers] can make use of crops that can tolerate the [high] levels of salt in the country's soil,"?he said, adding that several different kinds of crops were being studied.
Among these, he said, is barley, which is far more attractive as compared to wheat when planting in saline conditions. "We are also doing research for certain date palm trees that can tolerate salt. We are also developing forage crops to feed animals which can live on salt. Our scientists are working on developing vegetables and fruits which are biosaline. There are other parts of our research to developing forestries and shrubs that can also provide the green cover," he said.
Plantation experiments are being conducted on over 500 hectares of land, he said. "We are selecting some of the varieties and species which can tolerate salty water and can survive for a long time, such as 60 to 80 years."
There are about 2,500 farmers in the UAE that are benefiting from the centre's knowledge, findings and training. And across the entire Arab World, he said, there are 15,000 farmers making use of the centre's knowledge, findings, and training. In total, about 200,000 hectares of land that have benefited from the centre's development in technology when it comes to planting salt resistant crops, and better irrigation system and salt management in the soil.
Challenges
The region's dependency on food imports, according to Dr Barghouti, has thrown up a series of challenges and threats to the region's food security are serious.
"On average, the region imports are about 60-70 per cent of its basic requirement from outside, and there is no way that we are going to be able to reduce the dependency on foreign markets, especially with the decline in the water availability and quality in the same time," he said.
The region's fresh water resources have been committed to the maximum and with high water costs and desalination costs included, food import is the likely scenario that will stay. "It is better to import than produce, and the trend is going to be on the increase, for example wheat imports are much cheaper compared to wheat produced locally."
He said food security will not be managed by increased production, but rather as part of a well-managed strategy by improving food storage and trade policies. "Any other kind of attempt will be like fooling ourselves. And if they want to go to grow wheat elsewhere again, it is not going to be as cheap as it includes building infrastructure, storage facilities, silos, etc.
"Most of these arable lands ready for agriculture investment belong to poorer countries, and having trucks loaded with food stuff being sent to richer countries is not morally right, the high costs of transportation and infrastructure building notwithstanding.
He said authorities in the region should import greater amounts of foodgrains when prices are low in the international market, so as to maintain stocks in the country.
"To start growing more is a fallacy that won't be happening. It is a global issue after all, and there are only few areas in the world where the wheat and production of grains will be stable - central Europe, Russia, North America."
Looking to the challenges that lie ahead, Dr Barghouti said the past continues to affect the present, including but not limited to the quantity of water for irrigation and its deteriorating quality. Other challenges, he said, are the climate change and the randomness of rainfall.
The centre is in the process of building a knowledge base on crops that can thrive in conditions of high salinity, as well as expanding research on water management.
He said the new funds would work to benefit the countries in the region. "We have 22 countries that are members of the centre,"?he said.
Most of the research in the region so far have been done to increase crops under good or normal conditions, however IDBIDBLoading... and the UAE Government think that our region does not have easy conditions. "How to make our difficult conditions productive, that is a very challenging objective...and it is wonderful to be pioneers and innovators in this field."
By Dina Al Shibeeb
© Emirates Business 24/7 2010
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100428054811/Biosaline%20agriculture%20centre%20receives%20funds%20boost/
The Dubai-based International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) has been given an injection of $13 million (Dh47.7m) in new grants. This includes $8m from the UAE Government and the Islamic Development Bank, and an approval for a further $5m from a consortium of four funds.
The centre signed an agreement two weeks ago to renew its financial support from the UAE Government and the Islamic Development Bank, both sole financiers of the centre since its inception.
They have now pledged their support once again with the $8m injection.
"Both parties will share the core budget of the centre, 60 per cent will be paid by the government and the rest by the Islamic Development Bank," said Dr Shawki Barghouti, the Director-General of the centre.
Meanwhile, the centre has attracted the attention of international movers and shakers in this new area of businesses, particularly in its quest for finding alternative salt-resistant crops, as well as for its research concerning the shortages of fresh water for agricultural and urban landscaping in the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia.
Dr Barghouti said the bodies that will put up the other $5m in grants include the International Fund for Agricultural Development in Rome, the Kuwait-based Arab Fund for Economic and Social Developments and the Opec Fund for International Development in Vienna.
Desalination
Among the projects the centre is currently involved in is one revolving around desalination management on a farm level. It is a project the centre is undertaking with the Ministry of Environment and WaterMinistry of Environment and WaterLoading....
"We have a large number of farmers in the UAE, who are using ground water for irrigation, and ground water has salt, and the salt has to be removed, but the question is how to manage this in a clean manner," said Dr Barghouti.
According to recent reports by the Japanese financial holding company Nomura, the UAE currently ranks second - regionally and internationally - after Saudi Arabia in its desalination capacity (9,046,824 cubic metres a day).?
This is in line with the UAE's vision of ambitious urban development. However, a consequence of such expansionist economic activities will be that more people are required and consumption will rise exponentially.
"So definitely water will be a major requirement for a growing population as well as economic activity. However, by increasing desalination, there is an increased investment in a technology that has environmental implications, one of them is the increased carbon dioxide footprint as more energy usage is needed," he said.
"Also, desalination requires certain investment in chemicals in order to process the water from the sea, and again, these chemicals are thrown again back in the sea ... it is all pollution."
According to Dr Barghouti, when one gallon of water is taken from the sea, only 30 per cent of it is drinkable, and the remainder, what is called the brine, has to be thrown back into the sea. This brine material only increases the sea's delicate balance of salts, therefore disrupting the whole ecosystem with major environmental implications.
"I am not against desalination because there is no other option, but it has to be done very carefully, and new technology has to be developed that produces less pollution. This is why there is a lot of talk to use the solar energy instead.
"There is also a need to design different types of desalination that reduce the impact of brine and the chemicals. It definitely needs more research, and requires more of public policy, regulations and standards, and this is what the government is trying to do," he said.
One particular problem in the UAE is the increasing number of farmers who are installing small desalination plants in order to improve the quality of the ground water for irrigation. The centre is currently studying the management of the ensuing brine, and how to stave off its contaminating, polluting effects on land and sea.
Salt crops
Dr Barghouti says the centre is also trying to develop new crops that can live on salt water, hence biosaline.
"In this regard, desalination is not required, but [farmers] can make use of crops that can tolerate the [high] levels of salt in the country's soil,"?he said, adding that several different kinds of crops were being studied.
Among these, he said, is barley, which is far more attractive as compared to wheat when planting in saline conditions. "We are also doing research for certain date palm trees that can tolerate salt. We are also developing forage crops to feed animals which can live on salt. Our scientists are working on developing vegetables and fruits which are biosaline. There are other parts of our research to developing forestries and shrubs that can also provide the green cover," he said.
Plantation experiments are being conducted on over 500 hectares of land, he said. "We are selecting some of the varieties and species which can tolerate salty water and can survive for a long time, such as 60 to 80 years."
There are about 2,500 farmers in the UAE that are benefiting from the centre's knowledge, findings and training. And across the entire Arab World, he said, there are 15,000 farmers making use of the centre's knowledge, findings, and training. In total, about 200,000 hectares of land that have benefited from the centre's development in technology when it comes to planting salt resistant crops, and better irrigation system and salt management in the soil.
Challenges
The region's dependency on food imports, according to Dr Barghouti, has thrown up a series of challenges and threats to the region's food security are serious.
"On average, the region imports are about 60-70 per cent of its basic requirement from outside, and there is no way that we are going to be able to reduce the dependency on foreign markets, especially with the decline in the water availability and quality in the same time," he said.
The region's fresh water resources have been committed to the maximum and with high water costs and desalination costs included, food import is the likely scenario that will stay. "It is better to import than produce, and the trend is going to be on the increase, for example wheat imports are much cheaper compared to wheat produced locally."
He said food security will not be managed by increased production, but rather as part of a well-managed strategy by improving food storage and trade policies. "Any other kind of attempt will be like fooling ourselves. And if they want to go to grow wheat elsewhere again, it is not going to be as cheap as it includes building infrastructure, storage facilities, silos, etc.
"Most of these arable lands ready for agriculture investment belong to poorer countries, and having trucks loaded with food stuff being sent to richer countries is not morally right, the high costs of transportation and infrastructure building notwithstanding.
He said authorities in the region should import greater amounts of foodgrains when prices are low in the international market, so as to maintain stocks in the country.
"To start growing more is a fallacy that won't be happening. It is a global issue after all, and there are only few areas in the world where the wheat and production of grains will be stable - central Europe, Russia, North America."
Looking to the challenges that lie ahead, Dr Barghouti said the past continues to affect the present, including but not limited to the quantity of water for irrigation and its deteriorating quality. Other challenges, he said, are the climate change and the randomness of rainfall.
The centre is in the process of building a knowledge base on crops that can thrive in conditions of high salinity, as well as expanding research on water management.
He said the new funds would work to benefit the countries in the region. "We have 22 countries that are members of the centre,"?he said.
Most of the research in the region so far have been done to increase crops under good or normal conditions, however IDBIDBLoading... and the UAE Government think that our region does not have easy conditions. "How to make our difficult conditions productive, that is a very challenging objective...and it is wonderful to be pioneers and innovators in this field."
By Dina Al Shibeeb
© Emirates Business 24/7 2010
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100428054811/Biosaline%20agriculture%20centre%20receives%20funds%20boost/
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
China seizes millions of toxic food containers
28 April 2010
BEIJING - Authorities in China have seized more than seven million toxic disposable food containers, state media reported on Wednesday, in the latest product safety scare to hit the nation.
Seven companies in the eastern province of Jiangxi were busted for manufacturing the long-banned foam boxes using plastic waste and fluorescent whitening agents, the official China Daily newspaper said.
Disposable food containers are routinely used by restaurants across China. Authorities banned foam boxes in 1999, but they can still be found in many parts of the country.
The warmth of a hot meal causes toxic elements used to make the foam containers to seep into the food. Those substances can damage people’s livers, kidneys and reproductive systems.
According to the report, authorities seized a total of 7.2 million unsafe foam boxes in the provincial capital Nanchang and enough raw materials to make 10 million more.
They were found on sale in the city and in other areas of eastern China including Shanghai.
Employees of the Hong Kong-based International Food Packaging Association had visited a local market in Nanchang before the raids and reported foam boxes were “giving off a heavy smell of plastic waste,” the report said.
China is regularly hit by product safety scandals despite government pledges to clean up the food industry.
Last month, authorities ordered inspections of cooking oil nationwide after reports said up to one-tenth of China’s supplies contained cancer-causing agents.
Peddlers in the central province of Hunan were also reportedly found soaking dry soybeans in green dye and selling them as fresh green beans.
And in 2008, at least six babies died and 300,000 others fell ill after consuming milk products tainted with the industrial chemical melamine.
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data/international/2010/April/international_April1464.xml§ion=international&col=
28 April 2010
BEIJING - Authorities in China have seized more than seven million toxic disposable food containers, state media reported on Wednesday, in the latest product safety scare to hit the nation.
Seven companies in the eastern province of Jiangxi were busted for manufacturing the long-banned foam boxes using plastic waste and fluorescent whitening agents, the official China Daily newspaper said.
Disposable food containers are routinely used by restaurants across China. Authorities banned foam boxes in 1999, but they can still be found in many parts of the country.
The warmth of a hot meal causes toxic elements used to make the foam containers to seep into the food. Those substances can damage people’s livers, kidneys and reproductive systems.
According to the report, authorities seized a total of 7.2 million unsafe foam boxes in the provincial capital Nanchang and enough raw materials to make 10 million more.
They were found on sale in the city and in other areas of eastern China including Shanghai.
Employees of the Hong Kong-based International Food Packaging Association had visited a local market in Nanchang before the raids and reported foam boxes were “giving off a heavy smell of plastic waste,” the report said.
China is regularly hit by product safety scandals despite government pledges to clean up the food industry.
Last month, authorities ordered inspections of cooking oil nationwide after reports said up to one-tenth of China’s supplies contained cancer-causing agents.
Peddlers in the central province of Hunan were also reportedly found soaking dry soybeans in green dye and selling them as fresh green beans.
And in 2008, at least six babies died and 300,000 others fell ill after consuming milk products tainted with the industrial chemical melamine.
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data/international/2010/April/international_April1464.xml§ion=international&col=
Western Australia seeks to diversify trade basket
28 April 2010
DUBAI -- Western Australia, which has a significant stake in the UAE-Australia trade ties, is to diversify its trade basket as it gears up for a major export and two-way investment push in the Gulf region, a senior official of the country's largest state said on Tuesday.
The state, known for its vast mineral resources, commodities and education services, contributes 65 per cent to the overall Australian trade with the UAE, said Pankaj Savara, Regional Director and Trade Commissioner of the Dubai-based Western Australian Trade Office - Middle East (WATO-ME).
"Our bilateral trade with the UAE has been growing at a steady pace over the years and has clocked A$4.2 billion in 2009, out of which exports to the Emirates alone was valued at A$2.4 billion and imports A$1.8 billion," said Savara.
He said there would be significant expansion in the level of trade in the coming years with the trade basket poised to diversify from the current minerals and commodities to include exports of agri-business and food products.
WATO-ME is mandated to nurture growth in exports from Western Australia to the Middle East North Africa region with focus on the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. "Our charter is to promote trade and encourage investments both from the region to Western Australia and vice versa."
The State Government of Western Australia (WA) actively facilitates and encourages commercial, educational, investment and cultural ties between Middle East and the state of Western Australia, through WATO-ME, he pointed out in media briefing. Also present was John Arnold, advisor to WATO-ME.
"We have many Western Australian companies based in the UAE for years now and we view the trend in bilateral investments set to grow further with increasing opportunities within the region. Increasingly, thanks to the excellent transport infrastructure of the UAE, many Western Australian businesses are using the emirate as a re-export hub to the MENA and East European countries," Savara said.
"The Western Australia trade relationship is also poised for a significant diversification with a growing commerce in shipments of chilled meat, fresh vegetables and fruits, flower and live seafood," said Savara, who has introduced hundreds of Australian products and services to the region. He has organised numerous trade missions from WA to ME and held a number of investment attraction missions to WA from ME.
WA, which accounts for one-third of Australia's land mass, is the nation's best-performing state economy, driven by booming demand for natural gas and iron ore that has boosted business investment and construction. In 2009, WA received highest investment till date from all over the world.
The world's largest natural gas projects and the largest single resource natural gas project in Australia's history - The Gorgon Project is based out of WA, said Savara. The Government of Western Australia also recently hosted the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, Ms Quentin Bryce AC and her delegation on a West Australian built Dh100 million yacht -- Australis, in cooperation with the Australian Embassy in UAE. Australis, designed and built by Western Australian ship building company Austal is docked in Dubai.
He said the connectivity between Perth, the capital of Western Australia, and UAE has increased over the years. Perth is also the gateway to Australia for the Middle East and Indian Ocean countries and has less shipping distance saving around four to five days in time.
"Western Australia provides numerous opportunities and is predominantly known for its strong oil and gas and mining industries, agribusiness and education sectors. With its five world-class universities, WA became home to the highest group of students from the Middle East, in 2009," said Savara.
© Khaleej Times 2010
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100428042447/Western%20Australia%20seeks%26%238232%3Bto%20diversify%20trade%20basket%20/
28 April 2010
DUBAI -- Western Australia, which has a significant stake in the UAE-Australia trade ties, is to diversify its trade basket as it gears up for a major export and two-way investment push in the Gulf region, a senior official of the country's largest state said on Tuesday.
The state, known for its vast mineral resources, commodities and education services, contributes 65 per cent to the overall Australian trade with the UAE, said Pankaj Savara, Regional Director and Trade Commissioner of the Dubai-based Western Australian Trade Office - Middle East (WATO-ME).
"Our bilateral trade with the UAE has been growing at a steady pace over the years and has clocked A$4.2 billion in 2009, out of which exports to the Emirates alone was valued at A$2.4 billion and imports A$1.8 billion," said Savara.
He said there would be significant expansion in the level of trade in the coming years with the trade basket poised to diversify from the current minerals and commodities to include exports of agri-business and food products.
WATO-ME is mandated to nurture growth in exports from Western Australia to the Middle East North Africa region with focus on the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. "Our charter is to promote trade and encourage investments both from the region to Western Australia and vice versa."
The State Government of Western Australia (WA) actively facilitates and encourages commercial, educational, investment and cultural ties between Middle East and the state of Western Australia, through WATO-ME, he pointed out in media briefing. Also present was John Arnold, advisor to WATO-ME.
"We have many Western Australian companies based in the UAE for years now and we view the trend in bilateral investments set to grow further with increasing opportunities within the region. Increasingly, thanks to the excellent transport infrastructure of the UAE, many Western Australian businesses are using the emirate as a re-export hub to the MENA and East European countries," Savara said.
"The Western Australia trade relationship is also poised for a significant diversification with a growing commerce in shipments of chilled meat, fresh vegetables and fruits, flower and live seafood," said Savara, who has introduced hundreds of Australian products and services to the region. He has organised numerous trade missions from WA to ME and held a number of investment attraction missions to WA from ME.
WA, which accounts for one-third of Australia's land mass, is the nation's best-performing state economy, driven by booming demand for natural gas and iron ore that has boosted business investment and construction. In 2009, WA received highest investment till date from all over the world.
The world's largest natural gas projects and the largest single resource natural gas project in Australia's history - The Gorgon Project is based out of WA, said Savara. The Government of Western Australia also recently hosted the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, Ms Quentin Bryce AC and her delegation on a West Australian built Dh100 million yacht -- Australis, in cooperation with the Australian Embassy in UAE. Australis, designed and built by Western Australian ship building company Austal is docked in Dubai.
He said the connectivity between Perth, the capital of Western Australia, and UAE has increased over the years. Perth is also the gateway to Australia for the Middle East and Indian Ocean countries and has less shipping distance saving around four to five days in time.
"Western Australia provides numerous opportunities and is predominantly known for its strong oil and gas and mining industries, agribusiness and education sectors. With its five world-class universities, WA became home to the highest group of students from the Middle East, in 2009," said Savara.
© Khaleej Times 2010
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100428042447/Western%20Australia%20seeks%26%238232%3Bto%20diversify%20trade%20basket%20/
Benin offers agricultural investment to Saudi Arabia
27 April 2010
DAMMAM - Benin, one of Africa's most stable democracies, is offering agricultural investment to Saudi Arabia, particularly in the areas of rice, cotton, vegetable oil, and nuts production, a trade delegation from that country who met with Saudi businessmen at the Asharqia Chamber of Commerce and Industry said here Monday.
"Our country has rich agricultural resources, which could provide steady food security to Saudi Arabia," said Akinde Rene Robert, head of the delegation. Benin is one of the major sources of cotton to the Saudi market, exporting to the Kingdom 200,000 tons in 2009.
In 2008, Saudi imported nearly SR.300 million worth of cotton. Cotton products represent 90 percent of Benin's total agricultural products export.
"Benin could be considered a suitable place for the development of farm projects in cooperation between companies of the two countries," Robert added.
Robert said the mission is visiting the Kingdom to offer other investment prospects in Benin, in addition to agriculture, such as in the construction, transport, and telecommunication sectors and seaport operation.
"We want to expand our economic ties with Kingdom, and the eight years that diplomatic ties have been ongoing between our two countries have been very significant and fruitful," said Daouda Wabi, the ambassador Benin to Saudi Arabia.
According to the Wabi, there is no significant investments yet of Saudi Arabia in Benin.
"One significant relation we have achieved so far is the presence of some 1,000 Beninese students in Saudi Arabia who are enrolled in various universities taking up Islamic studies, medicine, business and law, "the ambassador said.
He said the Beninese students have been provided full scholarship program by the Saudi government.
Benin, formerly known as Dahomey, has strong civil society and a proliferation of political parties. The country, however, is yet to further improve its economy, particularly its infrastructures. Being severely underdeveloped, corruption is also rampant in both the public and private sectors.
27 April 2010
DAMMAM - Benin, one of Africa's most stable democracies, is offering agricultural investment to Saudi Arabia, particularly in the areas of rice, cotton, vegetable oil, and nuts production, a trade delegation from that country who met with Saudi businessmen at the Asharqia Chamber of Commerce and Industry said here Monday.
"Our country has rich agricultural resources, which could provide steady food security to Saudi Arabia," said Akinde Rene Robert, head of the delegation. Benin is one of the major sources of cotton to the Saudi market, exporting to the Kingdom 200,000 tons in 2009.
In 2008, Saudi imported nearly SR.300 million worth of cotton. Cotton products represent 90 percent of Benin's total agricultural products export.
"Benin could be considered a suitable place for the development of farm projects in cooperation between companies of the two countries," Robert added.
Robert said the mission is visiting the Kingdom to offer other investment prospects in Benin, in addition to agriculture, such as in the construction, transport, and telecommunication sectors and seaport operation.
"We want to expand our economic ties with Kingdom, and the eight years that diplomatic ties have been ongoing between our two countries have been very significant and fruitful," said Daouda Wabi, the ambassador Benin to Saudi Arabia.
According to the Wabi, there is no significant investments yet of Saudi Arabia in Benin.
"One significant relation we have achieved so far is the presence of some 1,000 Beninese students in Saudi Arabia who are enrolled in various universities taking up Islamic studies, medicine, business and law, "the ambassador said.
He said the Beninese students have been provided full scholarship program by the Saudi government.
Benin, formerly known as Dahomey, has strong civil society and a proliferation of political parties. The country, however, is yet to further improve its economy, particularly its infrastructures. Being severely underdeveloped, corruption is also rampant in both the public and private sectors.
By Joe Avancena
© The Saudi Gazette 2010
http://ae.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100427053649/Benin%20offers%20agricultural%20investment%20to%20Saudi%20Arabia/
Food security: Oman mulls overseas farm investments
27 April 2010
MUSCAT -- The government is weighing options for securing part of the country's requirement of strategic staples through offshore farming, Maqbool bin Ali Sultan, Commerce and Industry Minister, stated here yesterday.
Delivering the keynote address at the closing of the 2nd Oman Economic Forum at Shangri-La's Barr al Jissah Resort & Spa, he said the move was among a raft of initiatives either under consideration or implementation as part of the government's food security strategy.
Other key initiatives involve the creation of strategic stockpiles of staples, such as rice, flour, sugar and other commodities, at key places around the Sultanate. Food silos are also under various stages of design and construction in Muscat, Sohar and Salalah, he added.
In a detailed overview on Oman's Food Security Strategy, Maqbool said the Ministry had begun to develop a comprehensive policy to stave off a repeat of the food crisis that sent prices of essential commodities skyrocketing during 2007-2008.
Although global food production has since stabilised, and prices having fallen in the wake of the 2008 global financial meltdown, he warned against complacency on the part of food importing nations, such as the Sultanate, given the potential risks of a repeat of the food crisis.
A national committee set up at the height of the crisis in 2008, has since been tasked with drafting a comprehensive strategy on food security, Maqbool said. This committee has identified a number of food items as strategic to Oman's food security interests. The list includes rice, flour, vegetable oil, sugar, meat, eggs, fish, milk powder, tea and coffee.
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The panel also accorded a key role for the Public Authority for Stores and Food Reserves (PASFR), which is overseeing the establishment of strategic stockpiles and food silos in key locations around the country, Maqbool said.
At the same time, an international company has been commissioned to assist the Ministry in the formulation of a strategy for food security. The findings of the first phase of the study are currently being evaluated by key government departments and other stakeholders, he said.
Separately, UNCTAD, a specialised UN agency, has been tasked with studying the feasibility of acquiring farm land on lease in countries with arable land and abundant water, for the cultivation of strategic crops.
The study will weigh the benefits and potential risks associated with offshore farming, he noted.
Various studies on food security have also produced a number of recommendations on enhancing security of food supply, the Minister said. Notable is a proposal mooting the procurement of essential commodities through existing bilateral commitments between Oman and food exporting nations.
Experts have also identified the need for the establishment of an 'early warning system' that would alert authorities to an impending food crisis, based on indicators revealed by a database compiled for the purpose.
Improved surveillance of the marketplace, with a view to combating monopolistic practices and price manipulators, has been mooted as well.
Also under consideration is the potential use of treated water for irrigation, the Minister said, adding that Sultan Qaboos University is studying the viability of wheat cultivation in the Sultanate. But he ruled out any large-scale cultivation of staples like rice and wheat, pointing out that resource constraints made such a pursuit commercially unviable.
Oman, he noted, would continue to depend on imports for a significant proportion of its food requirements, which stands at 100 per cent in the case of rice, 80 per cent for meat, and 60 per cent for fruits and vegetables. But he underlined the potential for enhancing farm output through advanced farm techniques, efficient irrigation, and modern technologies. Research centres to help boost farm and livestock output have also been mooted, he said.
Furthermore, to ensure that fishermen and farmers have greater access to markets, the Ministry in cooperation with other government departments is establishing a wholesale market for fresh fish, as well as markets for fruit and vegetables, especially along the Batinah region.
In concluding, Maqbool underlined the potential for local and foreign investment in initiatives that enhance Oman's food security.
Opportunities are aplenty for cooperatives and other investors in farming, agriculture and the fisheries sectors, particularly in the transport, packaging, and marketing segments of the business.
He also noted the potential for investment in fish processing, and value addition of dates, among other areas.
By Conrad Prabhu
© Oman Daily Observer 2010
http://ae.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100427043409/Food%20security%3A%20Oman%20mulls%20overseas%20farm%20investments%20/
27 April 2010
MUSCAT -- The government is weighing options for securing part of the country's requirement of strategic staples through offshore farming, Maqbool bin Ali Sultan, Commerce and Industry Minister, stated here yesterday.
Delivering the keynote address at the closing of the 2nd Oman Economic Forum at Shangri-La's Barr al Jissah Resort & Spa, he said the move was among a raft of initiatives either under consideration or implementation as part of the government's food security strategy.
Other key initiatives involve the creation of strategic stockpiles of staples, such as rice, flour, sugar and other commodities, at key places around the Sultanate. Food silos are also under various stages of design and construction in Muscat, Sohar and Salalah, he added.
In a detailed overview on Oman's Food Security Strategy, Maqbool said the Ministry had begun to develop a comprehensive policy to stave off a repeat of the food crisis that sent prices of essential commodities skyrocketing during 2007-2008.
Although global food production has since stabilised, and prices having fallen in the wake of the 2008 global financial meltdown, he warned against complacency on the part of food importing nations, such as the Sultanate, given the potential risks of a repeat of the food crisis.
A national committee set up at the height of the crisis in 2008, has since been tasked with drafting a comprehensive strategy on food security, Maqbool said. This committee has identified a number of food items as strategic to Oman's food security interests. The list includes rice, flour, vegetable oil, sugar, meat, eggs, fish, milk powder, tea and coffee.
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The panel also accorded a key role for the Public Authority for Stores and Food Reserves (PASFR), which is overseeing the establishment of strategic stockpiles and food silos in key locations around the country, Maqbool said.
At the same time, an international company has been commissioned to assist the Ministry in the formulation of a strategy for food security. The findings of the first phase of the study are currently being evaluated by key government departments and other stakeholders, he said.
Separately, UNCTAD, a specialised UN agency, has been tasked with studying the feasibility of acquiring farm land on lease in countries with arable land and abundant water, for the cultivation of strategic crops.
The study will weigh the benefits and potential risks associated with offshore farming, he noted.
Various studies on food security have also produced a number of recommendations on enhancing security of food supply, the Minister said. Notable is a proposal mooting the procurement of essential commodities through existing bilateral commitments between Oman and food exporting nations.
Experts have also identified the need for the establishment of an 'early warning system' that would alert authorities to an impending food crisis, based on indicators revealed by a database compiled for the purpose.
Improved surveillance of the marketplace, with a view to combating monopolistic practices and price manipulators, has been mooted as well.
Also under consideration is the potential use of treated water for irrigation, the Minister said, adding that Sultan Qaboos University is studying the viability of wheat cultivation in the Sultanate. But he ruled out any large-scale cultivation of staples like rice and wheat, pointing out that resource constraints made such a pursuit commercially unviable.
Oman, he noted, would continue to depend on imports for a significant proportion of its food requirements, which stands at 100 per cent in the case of rice, 80 per cent for meat, and 60 per cent for fruits and vegetables. But he underlined the potential for enhancing farm output through advanced farm techniques, efficient irrigation, and modern technologies. Research centres to help boost farm and livestock output have also been mooted, he said.
Furthermore, to ensure that fishermen and farmers have greater access to markets, the Ministry in cooperation with other government departments is establishing a wholesale market for fresh fish, as well as markets for fruit and vegetables, especially along the Batinah region.
In concluding, Maqbool underlined the potential for local and foreign investment in initiatives that enhance Oman's food security.
Opportunities are aplenty for cooperatives and other investors in farming, agriculture and the fisheries sectors, particularly in the transport, packaging, and marketing segments of the business.
He also noted the potential for investment in fish processing, and value addition of dates, among other areas.
By Conrad Prabhu
© Oman Daily Observer 2010
http://ae.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100427043409/Food%20security%3A%20Oman%20mulls%20overseas%20farm%20investments%20/
Rainwater must be put to good use, FNC says
Amr Abdul Jalil Al Fahim, a member from Abu Dhabi, questioned the Ministry of Environment and Waters' efforts to make use of the rainwater, citing ineffective dams and rain drain networks across the country.
Dr Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahd and Amr Abdul Jalil Al Fahim.
Abu Dhabi: The Federal National Council (FNC) has warned that limited groundwater levels are plummeting, while rainwater reserves are vanishing at alarming rates.
Amr Abdul Jalil Al Fahim, a member from Abu Dhabi, questioned the Ministry of Environment and Waters' efforts to make use of the rainwater, citing ineffective dams and rain drain networks across the country.
"All efforts should be made so that rainwater retained by dams across the country raises levels of underground water tables and replenishes the underground water tables," he told the council.
He said the UAE's population boom and agricultural and industrial pressures are tapping deep into the underwater pools — but the dams built to recharge them by collecting rainwater are not working as well as they could.
Al Fahim also demanded that rainwater which floods streets across the country be used in agriculture or for drinking.
Dr Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahd, Minister of Environment and Water, said rainwater harvested by dams since 2001 was estimated at more than 130 million cubic metres. He added dams are effective in retaining water and that rainwater replenishes the underground water tables.
"The UAE has 114 water dams with a joint capacity of 118 million cubic metres of rainwater. A project is under way to build more than 68 dams to protect remote areas from flooding," Dr Bin Fahd said.
These dams, he said, will protect 50 per cent of the UAE's mountainous areas or around 3,000 square kilometres.
The minister said feasibility studies are needed to make use of rainwater in cities. Rainwater retained by lakes or dams across the country in the recent downpour were estimated at four million cubic metres.
Dr Ahmad Murad, UAE University's Chair of Geology Department, said nearly 75 per cent of rainwater stayed on the surface of the ground while only small amounts seeped into the ground.
He added the problem was the fine soil at the bottom of the reservoir lakes blocking the surface water from fully seeping into groundwater tables. The sediment is carried there from mountains and higher ground in flash floods following heavy rain.
"The silt blocks the lake beds. To recharge the groundwater, the beds have to be maintained," said Dr Murad.
"The authorities are trying to do that, but they should also transport the water through pipes into storage tanks or pump it out over large open areas with high porosity."
Even though the dams caught millions of cubic metres of rainwater in the recent downpours, less than 25 per cent of that made it through.
Trickling away: Resource is wasted
- UAE annual rainfall: 40-160mm
- Evaporation rate: 2,000mm-3,000mm
- Over 250 litres of water is wasted by each UAE resident every day on average. The UAE's per capita water usage — estimated at 550 litres daily, is three times the global average
UAE Water Production
- Desalination: 1 billion cubic metres
- Treated water: 400 million cubic metres
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/environment/rainwater-must-be-put-to-good-use-fnc-says-1.618436
Amr Abdul Jalil Al Fahim, a member from Abu Dhabi, questioned the Ministry of Environment and Waters' efforts to make use of the rainwater, citing ineffective dams and rain drain networks across the country.
Dr Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahd and Amr Abdul Jalil Al Fahim.
Abu Dhabi: The Federal National Council (FNC) has warned that limited groundwater levels are plummeting, while rainwater reserves are vanishing at alarming rates.
Amr Abdul Jalil Al Fahim, a member from Abu Dhabi, questioned the Ministry of Environment and Waters' efforts to make use of the rainwater, citing ineffective dams and rain drain networks across the country.
"All efforts should be made so that rainwater retained by dams across the country raises levels of underground water tables and replenishes the underground water tables," he told the council.
He said the UAE's population boom and agricultural and industrial pressures are tapping deep into the underwater pools — but the dams built to recharge them by collecting rainwater are not working as well as they could.
Al Fahim also demanded that rainwater which floods streets across the country be used in agriculture or for drinking.
Dr Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahd, Minister of Environment and Water, said rainwater harvested by dams since 2001 was estimated at more than 130 million cubic metres. He added dams are effective in retaining water and that rainwater replenishes the underground water tables.
"The UAE has 114 water dams with a joint capacity of 118 million cubic metres of rainwater. A project is under way to build more than 68 dams to protect remote areas from flooding," Dr Bin Fahd said.
These dams, he said, will protect 50 per cent of the UAE's mountainous areas or around 3,000 square kilometres.
The minister said feasibility studies are needed to make use of rainwater in cities. Rainwater retained by lakes or dams across the country in the recent downpour were estimated at four million cubic metres.
Dr Ahmad Murad, UAE University's Chair of Geology Department, said nearly 75 per cent of rainwater stayed on the surface of the ground while only small amounts seeped into the ground.
He added the problem was the fine soil at the bottom of the reservoir lakes blocking the surface water from fully seeping into groundwater tables. The sediment is carried there from mountains and higher ground in flash floods following heavy rain.
"The silt blocks the lake beds. To recharge the groundwater, the beds have to be maintained," said Dr Murad.
"The authorities are trying to do that, but they should also transport the water through pipes into storage tanks or pump it out over large open areas with high porosity."
Even though the dams caught millions of cubic metres of rainwater in the recent downpours, less than 25 per cent of that made it through.
Trickling away: Resource is wasted
- UAE annual rainfall: 40-160mm
- Evaporation rate: 2,000mm-3,000mm
- Over 250 litres of water is wasted by each UAE resident every day on average. The UAE's per capita water usage — estimated at 550 litres daily, is three times the global average
UAE Water Production
- Desalination: 1 billion cubic metres
- Treated water: 400 million cubic metres
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/environment/rainwater-must-be-put-to-good-use-fnc-says-1.618436
Monday, April 26, 2010
Sheep prices increase in RAK
27 April 2010
RAS AL KHAIMAH — The rise in sheep prices has been hard on the pockets of Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) residents.
Some residents also cited an increase in the prices of imported frozen meat in the markets which was an option for the residents.
Yunus Hassan, a regular buyer of sheep said traders increased the prices of sheep since the beginning of April making it hard for many families to buy the animals.
He stressed said Somali and Omani sheep are now priced at between Dh550 and Dh700, up from Dh350 last month, a Pakistani sheep cost Dh600 up from Dh400 and an Indian sheep from Dh500 to Dh600.
Abdul Karim Khan, a Pakistani trader in the Ras Al Khaimah livestock market has attributed the increase in the prices of sheep to the increase in the transportation costs.
He said traders raised the prices so as to remain in the business.
Rashid Mohammed, an Emirati who has been buying two heads of sheep for his family of thirteen members weekly, said since the prices of sheep went up, he had resorted to buying frozen meat.
He however noted that the prices of frozen meat have also been increased over the past week.
“I wonder why traders have to increase the prices of animals or the meat whenever they wish. The concerned authorities have to intervene and control the arbitrary price increases so as to protect the consumers,” said
Mohammed.
For Ahmed Salem, Egyptian expatriate, said he used to buy a sheep for his family at least once in a month but ever since the prices of animals increased, he is even reluctant to visit the livestock market.
Salem noted that sheep prices in RAK have increased by more than 80 per cent since mid last year.
A senior official at the Department of Economic Development in RAK said they have received complaints from residents about the increase in animal prices and that the department is monitoring the animal markets to ensure that traders do not cheat people.
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2010/April/theuae_April674.xml§ion=theuae&col
27 April 2010
RAS AL KHAIMAH — The rise in sheep prices has been hard on the pockets of Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) residents.
Some residents also cited an increase in the prices of imported frozen meat in the markets which was an option for the residents.
Yunus Hassan, a regular buyer of sheep said traders increased the prices of sheep since the beginning of April making it hard for many families to buy the animals.
He stressed said Somali and Omani sheep are now priced at between Dh550 and Dh700, up from Dh350 last month, a Pakistani sheep cost Dh600 up from Dh400 and an Indian sheep from Dh500 to Dh600.
Abdul Karim Khan, a Pakistani trader in the Ras Al Khaimah livestock market has attributed the increase in the prices of sheep to the increase in the transportation costs.
He said traders raised the prices so as to remain in the business.
Rashid Mohammed, an Emirati who has been buying two heads of sheep for his family of thirteen members weekly, said since the prices of sheep went up, he had resorted to buying frozen meat.
He however noted that the prices of frozen meat have also been increased over the past week.
“I wonder why traders have to increase the prices of animals or the meat whenever they wish. The concerned authorities have to intervene and control the arbitrary price increases so as to protect the consumers,” said
Mohammed.
For Ahmed Salem, Egyptian expatriate, said he used to buy a sheep for his family at least once in a month but ever since the prices of animals increased, he is even reluctant to visit the livestock market.
Salem noted that sheep prices in RAK have increased by more than 80 per cent since mid last year.
A senior official at the Department of Economic Development in RAK said they have received complaints from residents about the increase in animal prices and that the department is monitoring the animal markets to ensure that traders do not cheat people.
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2010/April/theuae_April674.xml§ion=theuae&col
New Zealand Minister of Trade joins Fonterra to celebrate its latest Investment in Saudi Arabia
26 April 2010
Dammam, Saudi Arabia: New Zealand's Minister of Trade joined Fonterra, the world's largest dairy processor, and local officials today to celebrate its recent buyout of the Saudi New Zealand Milk Products factory in Dammam, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
At an official inauguration ceremony at the site, the Honourable Tim Groser, New Zealand Minister of Trade, said the "The GCC holds increasing importance for New Zealand, and our visit to the region aims to extend our existing trade relationships as well as investigate new opportunities for trade and investment in the region. The ceremony today represents yet another advance in expanding the reach of New Zealand products and expertise within this prosperous market."
Amr Farghal, Managing Director of Fonterra Middle East, Africa (MEA) and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) said the official ceremony marked the beginning of the next stage for Fonterra's business in Saudi Arabia.
"Saudi Arabia is the cornerstone of our business in the GCC. With full ownership of our investment here, we will be able to secure the future manufacturing requirements needed to meet growing demand for high quality, New Zealand dairy in the region."
Worth around SAR 120 million (NZD45 million), this acquisition is a major step forward for Fonterra's growth strategy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC region.
Fonterra previously owned a 49 per cent stake in the dairy manufacturing factory with former joint-venture partner Saudia Dairy and Foodstuff Company (SADAFCO), which owned the remaining 51 per cent stake.
The ceremony held today was also attended by Mark Wilson, Fonterra's Managing Director of Asia, Africa and Middle East, members of the New Zealand trade delegation, which includes up to 60 New Zealand companies looking at investment opportunities in the region, as well as local Government officials.
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100426125500/Fonterra%20to%20celebrate%20its%20latest%20Investment%20in%20Saudi%20Arabia/
26 April 2010
Dammam, Saudi Arabia: New Zealand's Minister of Trade joined Fonterra, the world's largest dairy processor, and local officials today to celebrate its recent buyout of the Saudi New Zealand Milk Products factory in Dammam, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
At an official inauguration ceremony at the site, the Honourable Tim Groser, New Zealand Minister of Trade, said the "The GCC holds increasing importance for New Zealand, and our visit to the region aims to extend our existing trade relationships as well as investigate new opportunities for trade and investment in the region. The ceremony today represents yet another advance in expanding the reach of New Zealand products and expertise within this prosperous market."
Amr Farghal, Managing Director of Fonterra Middle East, Africa (MEA) and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) said the official ceremony marked the beginning of the next stage for Fonterra's business in Saudi Arabia.
"Saudi Arabia is the cornerstone of our business in the GCC. With full ownership of our investment here, we will be able to secure the future manufacturing requirements needed to meet growing demand for high quality, New Zealand dairy in the region."
Worth around SAR 120 million (NZD45 million), this acquisition is a major step forward for Fonterra's growth strategy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC region.
Fonterra previously owned a 49 per cent stake in the dairy manufacturing factory with former joint-venture partner Saudia Dairy and Foodstuff Company (SADAFCO), which owned the remaining 51 per cent stake.
The ceremony held today was also attended by Mark Wilson, Fonterra's Managing Director of Asia, Africa and Middle East, members of the New Zealand trade delegation, which includes up to 60 New Zealand companies looking at investment opportunities in the region, as well as local Government officials.
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100426125500/Fonterra%20to%20celebrate%20its%20latest%20Investment%20in%20Saudi%20Arabia/
Over 30 per cent of Brazil's poultry meat exports go to Middle East
Alessandro Teixeira
26 April 2010
Gulf alone imports close to 1 million metric tonnes of Halal poultry meat annually
More than 30 per cent of Brazil's poultry meat exports are transported to the Middle East, the South American country's leading market for the commodity, with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait among the top buyers. Brazil shipped around 1.4 million tons of chicken in 2009, representing a 22.7 per cent growth from 2008 and revenues of USD 1.9 billion. Exports are expected to grow further in 2010, with January data revealing a 37 per cent sales increase to USD 141.8 million over the corresponding period in 2009.Alessandro Teixeira
Brazil is the world's third largest exporter of poultry products, selling the meat to more than 150 countries. Brazil's major poultry exporters will outline their plans to expand further into the Middle East region and showcase their top products during Brasil Trade Middle East 2010, a multi-industry exposition taking place from May 9 to 11, 2010 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Dubai Festival City. They will particularly focus on the Gulf area, the largest importer of Halal-prepared products in the world, which purchases close to 1 million metric tonnes of Halal poultry meet each year.
"Many countries in the Middle East import their food needs; the Gulf in particular sources more than 90 per cent of foodstuffs from abroad. The Arab region is home to more than 345 million people and yet its farming and agricultural activities are very limited. It will thus continue to reach out to key food exporters such as Brazil, which is a very popular food partner among Middle Eastern countries as its products are certified by Cibal Halal, the Brazilian Islamic Centre for Halal Food Stuff Association. Brasil Trade Middle East will be an excellent venue for Brazilian exporters to discuss how their business complements the Arab region's food security agenda," said Alessandro Teixeira, President of Apex-Brasil, Organiser of Brasil Trade Middle East 2010.
Over 30 exporters representing more than 100 leading Brazilian producers and manufacturers will meet with Middle Eastern businessmen, investors and leaders to discuss ventures in various industries such as construction, furniture, automotive parts, and food and beverages during this year's edition of Brasil Trade Middle East. Exporters and hosted buyers will have the opportunity to engage in one-on-one meetings and join special presentations. A hosted buyer's program will be held for major importers from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. The event is organized by Apex-Brasil, the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency.
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100426080159/Over%2030%25%20of%20Brazil%27s%20poultry%20meat%20exports%20go%20to%20Middle%20East/
26 April 2010
Gulf alone imports close to 1 million metric tonnes of Halal poultry meat annually
More than 30 per cent of Brazil's poultry meat exports are transported to the Middle East, the South American country's leading market for the commodity, with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait among the top buyers. Brazil shipped around 1.4 million tons of chicken in 2009, representing a 22.7 per cent growth from 2008 and revenues of USD 1.9 billion. Exports are expected to grow further in 2010, with January data revealing a 37 per cent sales increase to USD 141.8 million over the corresponding period in 2009.Alessandro Teixeira
Brazil is the world's third largest exporter of poultry products, selling the meat to more than 150 countries. Brazil's major poultry exporters will outline their plans to expand further into the Middle East region and showcase their top products during Brasil Trade Middle East 2010, a multi-industry exposition taking place from May 9 to 11, 2010 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Dubai Festival City. They will particularly focus on the Gulf area, the largest importer of Halal-prepared products in the world, which purchases close to 1 million metric tonnes of Halal poultry meet each year.
"Many countries in the Middle East import their food needs; the Gulf in particular sources more than 90 per cent of foodstuffs from abroad. The Arab region is home to more than 345 million people and yet its farming and agricultural activities are very limited. It will thus continue to reach out to key food exporters such as Brazil, which is a very popular food partner among Middle Eastern countries as its products are certified by Cibal Halal, the Brazilian Islamic Centre for Halal Food Stuff Association. Brasil Trade Middle East will be an excellent venue for Brazilian exporters to discuss how their business complements the Arab region's food security agenda," said Alessandro Teixeira, President of Apex-Brasil, Organiser of Brasil Trade Middle East 2010.
Over 30 exporters representing more than 100 leading Brazilian producers and manufacturers will meet with Middle Eastern businessmen, investors and leaders to discuss ventures in various industries such as construction, furniture, automotive parts, and food and beverages during this year's edition of Brasil Trade Middle East. Exporters and hosted buyers will have the opportunity to engage in one-on-one meetings and join special presentations. A hosted buyer's program will be held for major importers from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. The event is organized by Apex-Brasil, the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency.
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100426080159/Over%2030%25%20of%20Brazil%27s%20poultry%20meat%20exports%20go%20to%20Middle%20East/
Exports of biscuits and wafers reach Dh150m
Monday, Apr 26, 2010
Dubai The value of direct exports of biscuits and wafers from Dubai amounted to Dh150 million while Dh7 million worth of products were exported from the free zones, according to the Export Development Corporation (EDC).
The direct imports are huge for this product, hitting nearly Dh500 million in 2009, which indicates the large potential for import substitution.
EDC, an agency of the Dubai Department of Economic Development, has released a batch of product and sector reports for 2010 to showcase Dubai's manufacturing and exporting capabilities in the specific products and sectors as part of its annual programme of sector and product studies.
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When your business crosses borders, ensure it doesn't get lost in translation. SABB Business Solutions
The reports included four product reports on plastic films, biscuits and wafers, copper cables, and medical furniture, in addition to two sector scan reports for electric distribution equipment and transformers and the machinery sector.
The plastic film report shows that 2009 exports of polypropylene products exceeded Dh200 million while polyethylene exports grew modestly in the past 10 years and last year reached Dh20 million.
The exports of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) products totalled Dh60 million.
The value of imports of copper cables exceeded Dh4 billion in 2008 and the exports averaged Dh500 million annually from 2007 to 2009.
Stable
Imports in this sector declined sharply last year but exports continue to rise, and re-exports have remained stable at about Dh500 million.
"Among our objectives is to provide UAE companies and buyers in various sectors with up-to-date analysis of trade data on specific sectors and products that highlight exporting capabilities, potential export markets, and opportunities for new investment or expansions," said Engineer Saeed Al Awadi, Chief Executive Office, EDC.
© Gulf News 2010. All rights reserved.
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidGN_25042010_260435/Exports%20of%20biscuits%20and%20wafers%20reach%20Dh150m/
Monday, Apr 26, 2010
Dubai The value of direct exports of biscuits and wafers from Dubai amounted to Dh150 million while Dh7 million worth of products were exported from the free zones, according to the Export Development Corporation (EDC).
The direct imports are huge for this product, hitting nearly Dh500 million in 2009, which indicates the large potential for import substitution.
EDC, an agency of the Dubai Department of Economic Development, has released a batch of product and sector reports for 2010 to showcase Dubai's manufacturing and exporting capabilities in the specific products and sectors as part of its annual programme of sector and product studies.
Advertisement
When your business crosses borders, ensure it doesn't get lost in translation. SABB Business Solutions
The reports included four product reports on plastic films, biscuits and wafers, copper cables, and medical furniture, in addition to two sector scan reports for electric distribution equipment and transformers and the machinery sector.
The plastic film report shows that 2009 exports of polypropylene products exceeded Dh200 million while polyethylene exports grew modestly in the past 10 years and last year reached Dh20 million.
The exports of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) products totalled Dh60 million.
The value of imports of copper cables exceeded Dh4 billion in 2008 and the exports averaged Dh500 million annually from 2007 to 2009.
Stable
Imports in this sector declined sharply last year but exports continue to rise, and re-exports have remained stable at about Dh500 million.
"Among our objectives is to provide UAE companies and buyers in various sectors with up-to-date analysis of trade data on specific sectors and products that highlight exporting capabilities, potential export markets, and opportunities for new investment or expansions," said Engineer Saeed Al Awadi, Chief Executive Office, EDC.
© Gulf News 2010. All rights reserved.
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidGN_25042010_260435/Exports%20of%20biscuits%20and%20wafers%20reach%20Dh150m/
Experts weigh regional strategy to combat food-borne diseases
PulseNet has supported member nations in detecting and tracing food-borne infections worldwide
Published: 12:15 April 26, 2010
Muscat: Health and food safety experts wrapped up two days of deliberations in Muscat on Monday, focused on helping countries around the region strengthen their national capabilities in fighting food-borne diseases.
The meeting was organised jointly by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Association of Public Health Laboratories (Washington), in coordination with Oman’s Ministry of Health.
Epidemiologists representing countries from around the Middle East, all of which are members of PulseNet International network, attended the two-day meeting.
PulseNet has supported member nations in detecting and tracing food-borne infections worldwide, while also helping develop an effective global early warning system through its network of laboratories.
The establishment of PulseNet Middle East in 2006 as a molecular surveillance network for food-borne infections has strengthened regional food safety collaboration.
Participants appealed for greater cooperation in dealing with potential outbreaks in food-borne diseases in the region.
Summing up this appeal, the Health Ministry’s top adviser, Dr Ali Jaffer Mohammed stated: “In modern times, rapid globalisation of food production and trade has increased the potential likelihood of food contamination. Many outbreaks of food-borne diseases that were once contained within a small community may now take place on global dimensions. All over the world, food safety authorities acknowledge that ensuring the safety of food must not only be tackled at the national level but also through closer linkages among food safety authorities at the international level.”
Experts warn that food contamination has the potential to create an enormous social and economic strain on societies. The economic losses can stem from medical costs and lost productivity, and also export bans imposed by importing countries or international food safety authorities.
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/oman/experts-weigh-regional-strategy-to-combat-food-borne-diseases-1.618103
PulseNet has supported member nations in detecting and tracing food-borne infections worldwide
Published: 12:15 April 26, 2010
Muscat: Health and food safety experts wrapped up two days of deliberations in Muscat on Monday, focused on helping countries around the region strengthen their national capabilities in fighting food-borne diseases.
The meeting was organised jointly by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Association of Public Health Laboratories (Washington), in coordination with Oman’s Ministry of Health.
Epidemiologists representing countries from around the Middle East, all of which are members of PulseNet International network, attended the two-day meeting.
PulseNet has supported member nations in detecting and tracing food-borne infections worldwide, while also helping develop an effective global early warning system through its network of laboratories.
The establishment of PulseNet Middle East in 2006 as a molecular surveillance network for food-borne infections has strengthened regional food safety collaboration.
Participants appealed for greater cooperation in dealing with potential outbreaks in food-borne diseases in the region.
Summing up this appeal, the Health Ministry’s top adviser, Dr Ali Jaffer Mohammed stated: “In modern times, rapid globalisation of food production and trade has increased the potential likelihood of food contamination. Many outbreaks of food-borne diseases that were once contained within a small community may now take place on global dimensions. All over the world, food safety authorities acknowledge that ensuring the safety of food must not only be tackled at the national level but also through closer linkages among food safety authorities at the international level.”
Experts warn that food contamination has the potential to create an enormous social and economic strain on societies. The economic losses can stem from medical costs and lost productivity, and also export bans imposed by importing countries or international food safety authorities.
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/oman/experts-weigh-regional-strategy-to-combat-food-borne-diseases-1.618103
UAE considers mechanism to safeguard food supplies
Authorities plan to eliminate price shocks arising from import dependence
Published: April 26, 2010
Dubai: The UAE will set up a mechanism to stock basic food items as part of a plan to ensure continuous food supplies and price stability in the local market.
The move will help the country to protect residents from price shocks caused by an imbalance in the demand-supply curve that could push prices of essentials to a level beyond the average people's buying capacity.
"The UAE currently relies on imports for up to 85 per cent of its food requirements which cost $2.9 billion (Dh10.6 billion) per annum and furthermore the GCC's dependence on food imports had reached $10 billion by the end of 2008," said Goutam Malhotra, exhibition manager at IIR Middle East, said in a recent statement. IIR Middle East is the organiser of one of the leading agricultural shows in the region.
The UAE consumes 800,000 tonnes of rice of several varieties, all of which is imported from a number of countries. The Ministerial Service Council yesterday approved the Ministry of Economy's proposed plan to set up a strategic food stock, according to WAM.
"The go-ahead signal was given at the council's meeting chaired by Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, in Abu Dhabi yesterday," the report said.
"The move aims to increase the national readiness to face any food shortage in emergency and crisis times, as well as to maintain price stability."
Then UAE is heavily dependent on imported food. Although domestic farming is on the rise, it is not enough to reduce dependence on imports which, analysts say, makes the country vulnerable to international price shocks.
"Although the mechanisms are unclear at this stage, the move is a good one and towards the right direction," said Raju Menon, a business analyst and managing partner at Morison Menon, an investment advisory.
Procurement body
"The government might have to create a federal procurement body, such as a food corporation, and build warehouses to store the basic food items and ensure speedy delivery and sale as and when there is a supply shortfall that could push up prices."
UAE authorities and private investors have been eyeing some agricultural lands in African and Asian countries including Sudan and Pakistan to grow crops and process food for future storage that will enhance the country's food security.
"The land acquisition plan for agriculture in Sudan and Asian countries is a good move and will help the country to develop a complete supply chain."
According to independent reports by the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF) and the Arab Organisation for Agricultural Development (AOAD), Arab countries can only produce 30 per cent to 50 per cent of their cereal, wheat, barley and cooking oil needs.
The difference between imports and exports of food products reached a record high of $23 billion in 2008 to bring the cumulative Arab food shortage to $155.5 billion in 2000-08.
"Many GCC countries are suffering from food shortages with the exception, in some cases, of fish and vegetables. "The difference between what their farms produce and domestic consumer demand has increased considerably since 1990," Malhotra said.
The UAE has resorted to a food security strategy of building a stockpile of 15 basic commodities.
Speaking last December Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy, said that the strategy would establish an early warning system for crises and disasters that may affect national food security.
— With inputs from Zaher Bitar, Staff Reporter
* $2.9b cost of UAE food imports per annum
* $10b cost of GCC food imports per annum in 2008
http://gulfnews.com/business/economy/uae-considers-mechanism-to-safeguard-food-supplies-1.617871
Authorities plan to eliminate price shocks arising from import dependence
Published: April 26, 2010
Dubai: The UAE will set up a mechanism to stock basic food items as part of a plan to ensure continuous food supplies and price stability in the local market.
The move will help the country to protect residents from price shocks caused by an imbalance in the demand-supply curve that could push prices of essentials to a level beyond the average people's buying capacity.
"The UAE currently relies on imports for up to 85 per cent of its food requirements which cost $2.9 billion (Dh10.6 billion) per annum and furthermore the GCC's dependence on food imports had reached $10 billion by the end of 2008," said Goutam Malhotra, exhibition manager at IIR Middle East, said in a recent statement. IIR Middle East is the organiser of one of the leading agricultural shows in the region.
The UAE consumes 800,000 tonnes of rice of several varieties, all of which is imported from a number of countries. The Ministerial Service Council yesterday approved the Ministry of Economy's proposed plan to set up a strategic food stock, according to WAM.
"The go-ahead signal was given at the council's meeting chaired by Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, in Abu Dhabi yesterday," the report said.
"The move aims to increase the national readiness to face any food shortage in emergency and crisis times, as well as to maintain price stability."
Then UAE is heavily dependent on imported food. Although domestic farming is on the rise, it is not enough to reduce dependence on imports which, analysts say, makes the country vulnerable to international price shocks.
"Although the mechanisms are unclear at this stage, the move is a good one and towards the right direction," said Raju Menon, a business analyst and managing partner at Morison Menon, an investment advisory.
Procurement body
"The government might have to create a federal procurement body, such as a food corporation, and build warehouses to store the basic food items and ensure speedy delivery and sale as and when there is a supply shortfall that could push up prices."
UAE authorities and private investors have been eyeing some agricultural lands in African and Asian countries including Sudan and Pakistan to grow crops and process food for future storage that will enhance the country's food security.
"The land acquisition plan for agriculture in Sudan and Asian countries is a good move and will help the country to develop a complete supply chain."
According to independent reports by the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF) and the Arab Organisation for Agricultural Development (AOAD), Arab countries can only produce 30 per cent to 50 per cent of their cereal, wheat, barley and cooking oil needs.
The difference between imports and exports of food products reached a record high of $23 billion in 2008 to bring the cumulative Arab food shortage to $155.5 billion in 2000-08.
"Many GCC countries are suffering from food shortages with the exception, in some cases, of fish and vegetables. "The difference between what their farms produce and domestic consumer demand has increased considerably since 1990," Malhotra said.
The UAE has resorted to a food security strategy of building a stockpile of 15 basic commodities.
Speaking last December Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy, said that the strategy would establish an early warning system for crises and disasters that may affect national food security.
— With inputs from Zaher Bitar, Staff Reporter
* $2.9b cost of UAE food imports per annum
* $10b cost of GCC food imports per annum in 2008
http://gulfnews.com/business/economy/uae-considers-mechanism-to-safeguard-food-supplies-1.617871
Vegetable market raided
Published: Apr 26, 2010 00:08
JEDDAH: Municipality inspectors raided the city's main vegetable and fruit market, arresting 420 illegal residents.
"There were legal actions taken against those violators, and we stressed that in order for food to be sold or displayed in public the necessary licenses have to be obtained," said Nasser Al-Jarallah, a municipal official.
The raid also led to the confiscation of more than 683 food items.
"A majority of people cannot afford to buy food items from the supermarket or local grocery shops," said Abu Abdullah, a local father of three.
"These guys sell vegetables and fruits at much lower prices. You can always bargain with the seller and sometimes you get occasional freebie. It's unfortunate to see all these goods confiscated."
Some have suggested that the municipality should allocate a specific, hygienic place for those traders who sell products on the streets. They should also be encouraged to follow health issues.
http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article47246.ece
Published: Apr 26, 2010 00:08
JEDDAH: Municipality inspectors raided the city's main vegetable and fruit market, arresting 420 illegal residents.
"There were legal actions taken against those violators, and we stressed that in order for food to be sold or displayed in public the necessary licenses have to be obtained," said Nasser Al-Jarallah, a municipal official.
The raid also led to the confiscation of more than 683 food items.
"A majority of people cannot afford to buy food items from the supermarket or local grocery shops," said Abu Abdullah, a local father of three.
"These guys sell vegetables and fruits at much lower prices. You can always bargain with the seller and sometimes you get occasional freebie. It's unfortunate to see all these goods confiscated."
Some have suggested that the municipality should allocate a specific, hygienic place for those traders who sell products on the streets. They should also be encouraged to follow health issues.
http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article47246.ece
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Crucial PulseNet meeting on food precaution starts today
24 April 2010
MUSCAT: Increasing international trade has enabled food produced in one country to be consumed in different parts of the world, and cause diseases too, if contaminated with a food-borne pathogen.
Therefore, a disease contracted in one part of the world may first become apparent thousands of miles away, and that's where PulseNet which is a network of national and regional laboratory networks dedicated to tracking food-borne infections worldwide plays a vital role in the surveillance and investigation of food-borne illness outbreaks that were previously difficult to detect. Therefore, to discuss the vital issue, PulseNet meeting is being held in the city today and tomorrow.
Through PulseNet, scientists may link cases associated with the same outbreak even if the affected individuals are geographically distant. Outbreaks, along with their sources, can now be identified in a matter of days rather than weeks through utilising standardised laboratory methods and sharing information in real-time. The resulting surveillance provides early warning of food and waterborne disease outbreaks, emerging pathogens, and acts of deliberate release of micro-organisms to food. Thus, PulseNet facilitates early identification of a single or common source of the outbreak and acts as an efficient means of communication between public health laboratories.
All these benefits were the main inspiration behind the establishment of the PulseNet Middle East in December 2006, at WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO) in Cairo, Egypt with the aim to support the Food Safety regional plan.
Presently, the network includes public health laboratories and academic and medical institutions from 10 countries in the Eastern Mediterranean region: Bahrain, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Palestine, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
© Times of Oman 2010
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100424051030/Crucial%20PulseNet%20meeting%20on%20food%20precaution%20starts%20today%20%20/
24 April 2010
MUSCAT: Increasing international trade has enabled food produced in one country to be consumed in different parts of the world, and cause diseases too, if contaminated with a food-borne pathogen.
Therefore, a disease contracted in one part of the world may first become apparent thousands of miles away, and that's where PulseNet which is a network of national and regional laboratory networks dedicated to tracking food-borne infections worldwide plays a vital role in the surveillance and investigation of food-borne illness outbreaks that were previously difficult to detect. Therefore, to discuss the vital issue, PulseNet meeting is being held in the city today and tomorrow.
Through PulseNet, scientists may link cases associated with the same outbreak even if the affected individuals are geographically distant. Outbreaks, along with their sources, can now be identified in a matter of days rather than weeks through utilising standardised laboratory methods and sharing information in real-time. The resulting surveillance provides early warning of food and waterborne disease outbreaks, emerging pathogens, and acts of deliberate release of micro-organisms to food. Thus, PulseNet facilitates early identification of a single or common source of the outbreak and acts as an efficient means of communication between public health laboratories.
All these benefits were the main inspiration behind the establishment of the PulseNet Middle East in December 2006, at WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO) in Cairo, Egypt with the aim to support the Food Safety regional plan.
Presently, the network includes public health laboratories and academic and medical institutions from 10 countries in the Eastern Mediterranean region: Bahrain, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Palestine, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
© Times of Oman 2010
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100424051030/Crucial%20PulseNet%20meeting%20on%20food%20precaution%20starts%20today%20%20/
Market for local organic produce gets a boost
Demand is increasing, slowly but steadily
Published: 00:00 April 24, 2010
Dubai Shopping for organic food is no longer limited to a few items on a badly stocked shelf. Locally grown produce is making its entrance in most supermarkets — not just the speciality stores — to meet a slowly but steady demand.
The latest initiative was a market held for the first time in Souq Al Bahar in Old Town, giving local organic farmers from the UAE and Oman a chance to sell their produce directly.
Baker & Spice, a restaurant in Souq Al Bahar that serves what is in season locally and within the region to minimise its carbon footprint, was behind the market, which was held yesterday between 11am and 5pm.
Currently in season are tomatoes, aubergines, courgettes, fennel, strawberries, lettuce, rocket — local and wild — broccoli, corn and potato.
Farmers from five farms in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, brought with them native and other varieties of fruit and vegetables that are in season. All profit went directly to Al Foa farm, Mazaraa Organic Farm and Dar Al Fatah Farm from Abu Dhabi, Salata Farms from Ras Al Khaimah, and farmers in Oman.
Yael Mejia, a food consultant, said the market will hopefully become a regular event outside Baker & Spice.
"This is the first opportunity for residents of Dubai and their families to get close to the wonderful produce grown under our noses, and to remind us that fresh produce tastes far better. Once you know what is on offer, I am convinced it will change the way you eat".
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/environment/market-for-local-organic-produce-gets-a-boost-1.616843
Demand is increasing, slowly but steadily
Published: 00:00 April 24, 2010
Dubai Shopping for organic food is no longer limited to a few items on a badly stocked shelf. Locally grown produce is making its entrance in most supermarkets — not just the speciality stores — to meet a slowly but steady demand.
The latest initiative was a market held for the first time in Souq Al Bahar in Old Town, giving local organic farmers from the UAE and Oman a chance to sell their produce directly.
Baker & Spice, a restaurant in Souq Al Bahar that serves what is in season locally and within the region to minimise its carbon footprint, was behind the market, which was held yesterday between 11am and 5pm.
Currently in season are tomatoes, aubergines, courgettes, fennel, strawberries, lettuce, rocket — local and wild — broccoli, corn and potato.
Farmers from five farms in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, brought with them native and other varieties of fruit and vegetables that are in season. All profit went directly to Al Foa farm, Mazaraa Organic Farm and Dar Al Fatah Farm from Abu Dhabi, Salata Farms from Ras Al Khaimah, and farmers in Oman.
Yael Mejia, a food consultant, said the market will hopefully become a regular event outside Baker & Spice.
"This is the first opportunity for residents of Dubai and their families to get close to the wonderful produce grown under our noses, and to remind us that fresh produce tastes far better. Once you know what is on offer, I am convinced it will change the way you eat".
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/environment/market-for-local-organic-produce-gets-a-boost-1.616843
Kingdom to import wheat from Australia
RIYADH: The Kingdom has modified its wheat-import quality specifications allowing imports from Australia, the world's fourth-largest exporter of the grain, the Australian Embassy announced here Friday.
The latest Saudi tender had a minimum 11.1 percent protein level compared with a minimum last year of 12.5 percent. The tolerance level for the ergot fungus was raised to 0.045 percent.
"The new amendments to the requirements allow lower protein levels and a smaller tolerance for ergot fungus," Michael Kavanagh, commercial counselor of the embassy, told Arab News Friday.
He added that the new changes would permit wheat from western Australia, the country's top grain-exporting region, to take part in tenders issued by Saudi Arabia's Grains Silos and Flour Mills Organization (GSFMO).
Australia has been unable to access the 2.5 million tons a year to the Saudi market. The state produced 8 million tons of wheat in 2009/10. Western Australia is already a major supplier of barley to Saudi Arabia.
The Kingdom opened its doors to wheat imports in 2008 when it introduced a new groundwater conservation policy to cut annual irrigated wheat production. It also has plans to stop growing wheat domestically by spring 2016, and import the grain instead.
"Australian shippers competed in a Saudi Arabia tender this month for 550,000 metric tons, with suppliers from Canada and Germany winning the business," said Tom Puddy, wheat marketing manager for CBH Group's export division.
A global glut of wheat this year has increased price competition.
The Middle Eastern country may import two million tons in 2010-11, according to a report last month by the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service.
http://arabnews.com/economy/article46673.ece
RIYADH: The Kingdom has modified its wheat-import quality specifications allowing imports from Australia, the world's fourth-largest exporter of the grain, the Australian Embassy announced here Friday.
The latest Saudi tender had a minimum 11.1 percent protein level compared with a minimum last year of 12.5 percent. The tolerance level for the ergot fungus was raised to 0.045 percent.
"The new amendments to the requirements allow lower protein levels and a smaller tolerance for ergot fungus," Michael Kavanagh, commercial counselor of the embassy, told Arab News Friday.
He added that the new changes would permit wheat from western Australia, the country's top grain-exporting region, to take part in tenders issued by Saudi Arabia's Grains Silos and Flour Mills Organization (GSFMO).
Australia has been unable to access the 2.5 million tons a year to the Saudi market. The state produced 8 million tons of wheat in 2009/10. Western Australia is already a major supplier of barley to Saudi Arabia.
The Kingdom opened its doors to wheat imports in 2008 when it introduced a new groundwater conservation policy to cut annual irrigated wheat production. It also has plans to stop growing wheat domestically by spring 2016, and import the grain instead.
"Australian shippers competed in a Saudi Arabia tender this month for 550,000 metric tons, with suppliers from Canada and Germany winning the business," said Tom Puddy, wheat marketing manager for CBH Group's export division.
A global glut of wheat this year has increased price competition.
The Middle Eastern country may import two million tons in 2010-11, according to a report last month by the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service.
http://arabnews.com/economy/article46673.ece
India water crisis laid bare by clash with cola giants
24 April 2010
A pollution fine for Coca-Cola and an order for PepsiCo to cut water use at factories in India have highlighted a conflict between big business and farmers over natural resources.
Last month, a report commissioned by the southern state of Kerala ordered Coca-Cola to pay 47 million dollars in compensation for polluting agricultural land and extracting too much groundwater at a bottling plant.
A similar report submitted at the same time instructed PepsiCo to cut groundwater use by two-thirds at its plant also in Kerala’s Palakkad district.
The twin investigations were ordered by the Kerala government after years of protests by farmers who say industrial projects like those run by the soft drinks giants leave just a small fraction of water for irrigating fields.
“Operating water-guzzling bottling plants in drought-hit areas where farmers do not have access to water is highly unethical and criminal,” said R. Ajayan, who is spearheading the campaign in Kerala.
A report by the World Bank released in March said about 60 percent of aquifers in India would be in a critical condition within 15 years if the trend of indiscriminate exploitation of ground water continued.
Farmers in Kerala close to the Coca-Cola plant, which was only open between 1999 and 2004, say the water table dropped drastically and a sludge containing toxic chemicals dumped by the unit seeped into their soil making it infertile.
Similar accusations have been levelled against Coca-Cola by farmers near bottling plants in the town of Varanasi and on the outskirts of the desert city Jaipur.
“They have ruined our fields completely. We wait and wait for water and what we extract is not even worth feeding the cattle,” said Raghav Govind, a farmer living near the Varanasi plant.
Coca-Cola closed its plant in Kerala after months of angry protests — led by the state’s powerful Communist and anti-American politicians.
Environmentalists say future clashes between farmers and industry will become increasingly fraught due to government failure to regulate the use of water, with the country’s annual consumption expected to almost double by 2050.
Water shortages are one of the biggest issues restricting new towns planned outside fast-growing cities such as the capital New Delhi.
“Fights over water will worsen if India does not define a clear policy on sharing,” said Ashima Roychoudhari, an environmentalist working for the government in New Delhi.
“There has to be a point where we have to start prioritising and rationing water to stop wastage and prevent conflicts.”
Farmers who are against industries such as the bottling plants say their opposition will not end until their demands are met.
“We will not allow factories to take water when communities do not have enough water to sustain their lives. Agriculture is more important than making a fizzy drink,” said Nandlal Master, a community organiser in Varanasi.
Both companies deny all the allegations, which many observers see as politically motivated.
“Based on scientific evaluation, our Palakkad plant operations have not been shown to be the cause of local watershed issues,” Coca-Cola said in a statement about its closed unit.
PepsiCo said its plant was a model factory and one of the most water efficient examples of its type.
“Through innovative recycling and recharging techniques, the plant has been able to save about 200 million litres of water in the last four years and has also brought down the water usage by 60 percent,” it said.
Kerala’s minister for water, N.K Premchandran, who heads the panel that issued the damning reports, vowed to pressure the companies to act — though the fines are not legally binding as they have not been imposed by the courts.
“In the case of Coca-Cola, they will have to allocate compensation to the farmers, and PepsiCo should install water meters at their bottling plant to check their daily consumption,” he said.
“Granting agricultural land for the Coca-Cola plant was a mistake. At that point we did not want to miss the industrialisation bus, but now we have to protect the environment,” he told AFP.
Premchandran said the government would not order the PepsiCo plant to shut down as it employed more than 3,500 people.
Experts focusing on industrial policy and foreign investment said Indian states often create the problem by hosting lavish trade fairs to attract big companies and offering them concessions to set up businesses.
“It is not the multinational company that decides to open a unit near a farm. The government allocates them land,” said a senior official at the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry who declined to be named.
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data/international/2010/April/international_April1313.xml§ion=international&col=
24 April 2010
A pollution fine for Coca-Cola and an order for PepsiCo to cut water use at factories in India have highlighted a conflict between big business and farmers over natural resources.
Last month, a report commissioned by the southern state of Kerala ordered Coca-Cola to pay 47 million dollars in compensation for polluting agricultural land and extracting too much groundwater at a bottling plant.
A similar report submitted at the same time instructed PepsiCo to cut groundwater use by two-thirds at its plant also in Kerala’s Palakkad district.
The twin investigations were ordered by the Kerala government after years of protests by farmers who say industrial projects like those run by the soft drinks giants leave just a small fraction of water for irrigating fields.
“Operating water-guzzling bottling plants in drought-hit areas where farmers do not have access to water is highly unethical and criminal,” said R. Ajayan, who is spearheading the campaign in Kerala.
A report by the World Bank released in March said about 60 percent of aquifers in India would be in a critical condition within 15 years if the trend of indiscriminate exploitation of ground water continued.
Farmers in Kerala close to the Coca-Cola plant, which was only open between 1999 and 2004, say the water table dropped drastically and a sludge containing toxic chemicals dumped by the unit seeped into their soil making it infertile.
Similar accusations have been levelled against Coca-Cola by farmers near bottling plants in the town of Varanasi and on the outskirts of the desert city Jaipur.
“They have ruined our fields completely. We wait and wait for water and what we extract is not even worth feeding the cattle,” said Raghav Govind, a farmer living near the Varanasi plant.
Coca-Cola closed its plant in Kerala after months of angry protests — led by the state’s powerful Communist and anti-American politicians.
Environmentalists say future clashes between farmers and industry will become increasingly fraught due to government failure to regulate the use of water, with the country’s annual consumption expected to almost double by 2050.
Water shortages are one of the biggest issues restricting new towns planned outside fast-growing cities such as the capital New Delhi.
“Fights over water will worsen if India does not define a clear policy on sharing,” said Ashima Roychoudhari, an environmentalist working for the government in New Delhi.
“There has to be a point where we have to start prioritising and rationing water to stop wastage and prevent conflicts.”
Farmers who are against industries such as the bottling plants say their opposition will not end until their demands are met.
“We will not allow factories to take water when communities do not have enough water to sustain their lives. Agriculture is more important than making a fizzy drink,” said Nandlal Master, a community organiser in Varanasi.
Both companies deny all the allegations, which many observers see as politically motivated.
“Based on scientific evaluation, our Palakkad plant operations have not been shown to be the cause of local watershed issues,” Coca-Cola said in a statement about its closed unit.
PepsiCo said its plant was a model factory and one of the most water efficient examples of its type.
“Through innovative recycling and recharging techniques, the plant has been able to save about 200 million litres of water in the last four years and has also brought down the water usage by 60 percent,” it said.
Kerala’s minister for water, N.K Premchandran, who heads the panel that issued the damning reports, vowed to pressure the companies to act — though the fines are not legally binding as they have not been imposed by the courts.
“In the case of Coca-Cola, they will have to allocate compensation to the farmers, and PepsiCo should install water meters at their bottling plant to check their daily consumption,” he said.
“Granting agricultural land for the Coca-Cola plant was a mistake. At that point we did not want to miss the industrialisation bus, but now we have to protect the environment,” he told AFP.
Premchandran said the government would not order the PepsiCo plant to shut down as it employed more than 3,500 people.
Experts focusing on industrial policy and foreign investment said Indian states often create the problem by hosting lavish trade fairs to attract big companies and offering them concessions to set up businesses.
“It is not the multinational company that decides to open a unit near a farm. The government allocates them land,” said a senior official at the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry who declined to be named.
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data/international/2010/April/international_April1313.xml§ion=international&col=
Farming reforms take root
24 April 2010
DUBAI — An agricultural movement with 7,500 farmers is throbbing in the heart of the Western Region, away from the buzz of cosmopolitan Abu Dhabi. Reforms are giving a new thrust to the sector, making it more attractive for Emirati youth who are joining in large numbers.
This is part of the strategic directives of the government in line with its vision for 2030 and the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) is leading the movement for food security. The authority hopes to complete the implementation of reforms across the emirate in three to four years. The target is to double the market share of local crops from the current 12.5 per cent to 25 per cent.
Mohammed Jalal Al Reyaysa, Director of Public Relations and Communication, ADFA, says, “The plan is to do all that is needed to bring agricultural practices in the emirate on a par with the best in the world through comprehensive public-private partnership and consolidation of the efforts of the various government bodies.”
A new service centre for farmers was opened recently, which is an autonomous body independent of the ADFCA. It will take up activities and offer services to farmers in the Western Region of Al Gharbia. Farmers in other areas are expected to join by the beginning of next year.
The region, for the record, comprises a massive 83 per cent of Abu Dhabi’s land mass and generates about 34 per cent of its GDP.
The government is encouraging the growth of a sustainable and self-reliant agricultural sector in the area with inputs from foreign farming firms to further its development plans.
“A consulting company, GRM, has been hired as a strategy developer to start setting up the first phase of a farmers’ service centre as well as to help us with agriculture-related legislation,” says Al Reyaysa.
The authority has also enlisted the services of FiBL, a leading organisation in farming, to advise it on promoting organic agriculture and thereby expand organic arable land in the emirate. “We are working with different organisations, including international bodies like Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and the World Bank.”
Environment-friendly agriculture suitable for semi-arid desert areas is the focus of this initiative. At the Liwa Agricultural Exhibition held recently, two agreements for greenhouses over an area of 39,000/600 square metres were signed between three local companies. This has the potential to transform agrarian practices in the region. Courses for farmers are being planned by the new farmers’ centre to increase production and improve the quality of produce.
It does not stop here. The centre will also develop distinctive trademarks for agricultural products from the Capital’s region. About 80 per cent of the high-quality produce from Al Gharbia will be marketed through a chain.
“Customers will recognise food from the region as being of higher quality and freshness than imported food following introduction of the internationally accepted system of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP),” according to the official.
The authority, however, declined to give figures, but says there is no budgetary constraint for the agricultural sector. The emirate’s leadership considers farming vital to national economic development and to cultural heritage of the country. ‘‘The support of the government to the farming sector will never stop,’’ he states.
Diversification of crops is on the cards, from the traditional dates and other fruits and vegetables using new technology. ‘‘We are using technology and new farming techniques to try and cultivate crops that have been found resistant here. We are close to succeeding in cultivating even those vegetables and fruits that were thought impossible to cultivate here before.”
But no movement is complete if it cannot attract the youth. Young, highly educated Emiratis from the region, even graduates from leading institutions from the West are turning to agriculture in hordes.
The signs bode well for a greener landscape in the UAE, with Emirati youth leading the charge to make the desert bloom.
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2010/April/theuae_April599.xml§ion=theuae&col=
24 April 2010
DUBAI — An agricultural movement with 7,500 farmers is throbbing in the heart of the Western Region, away from the buzz of cosmopolitan Abu Dhabi. Reforms are giving a new thrust to the sector, making it more attractive for Emirati youth who are joining in large numbers.
This is part of the strategic directives of the government in line with its vision for 2030 and the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) is leading the movement for food security. The authority hopes to complete the implementation of reforms across the emirate in three to four years. The target is to double the market share of local crops from the current 12.5 per cent to 25 per cent.
Mohammed Jalal Al Reyaysa, Director of Public Relations and Communication, ADFA, says, “The plan is to do all that is needed to bring agricultural practices in the emirate on a par with the best in the world through comprehensive public-private partnership and consolidation of the efforts of the various government bodies.”
A new service centre for farmers was opened recently, which is an autonomous body independent of the ADFCA. It will take up activities and offer services to farmers in the Western Region of Al Gharbia. Farmers in other areas are expected to join by the beginning of next year.
The region, for the record, comprises a massive 83 per cent of Abu Dhabi’s land mass and generates about 34 per cent of its GDP.
The government is encouraging the growth of a sustainable and self-reliant agricultural sector in the area with inputs from foreign farming firms to further its development plans.
“A consulting company, GRM, has been hired as a strategy developer to start setting up the first phase of a farmers’ service centre as well as to help us with agriculture-related legislation,” says Al Reyaysa.
The authority has also enlisted the services of FiBL, a leading organisation in farming, to advise it on promoting organic agriculture and thereby expand organic arable land in the emirate. “We are working with different organisations, including international bodies like Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and the World Bank.”
Environment-friendly agriculture suitable for semi-arid desert areas is the focus of this initiative. At the Liwa Agricultural Exhibition held recently, two agreements for greenhouses over an area of 39,000/600 square metres were signed between three local companies. This has the potential to transform agrarian practices in the region. Courses for farmers are being planned by the new farmers’ centre to increase production and improve the quality of produce.
It does not stop here. The centre will also develop distinctive trademarks for agricultural products from the Capital’s region. About 80 per cent of the high-quality produce from Al Gharbia will be marketed through a chain.
“Customers will recognise food from the region as being of higher quality and freshness than imported food following introduction of the internationally accepted system of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP),” according to the official.
The authority, however, declined to give figures, but says there is no budgetary constraint for the agricultural sector. The emirate’s leadership considers farming vital to national economic development and to cultural heritage of the country. ‘‘The support of the government to the farming sector will never stop,’’ he states.
Diversification of crops is on the cards, from the traditional dates and other fruits and vegetables using new technology. ‘‘We are using technology and new farming techniques to try and cultivate crops that have been found resistant here. We are close to succeeding in cultivating even those vegetables and fruits that were thought impossible to cultivate here before.”
But no movement is complete if it cannot attract the youth. Young, highly educated Emiratis from the region, even graduates from leading institutions from the West are turning to agriculture in hordes.
The signs bode well for a greener landscape in the UAE, with Emirati youth leading the charge to make the desert bloom.
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2010/April/theuae_April599.xml§ion=theuae&col=
Public agencies tackle water conservation
23 April 2010
AMMAN -- Public sector representatives on Thursday drew up action plans to implement long-term comprehensive water conservation programmes in their respective institutions.
In a workshop organised by the Ministry of Water and Irrigation in cooperation with the USAID-funded IDARA Project yesterday, participants were acquainted with the recommendations of the national Water Demand Management (WDM) Policy.
"The workshops enable local government staff to tailor their respective water conservation plans to the challenges in their particular community by identifying what areas of the WDM policy can be applied," Jamal Hijazi, head of the WDM unit at the Ministry of Water and Irrigation.
He added that local experts in water management briefed participants, who represent institutions affiliated with the ministries of industry and trade and housing and public works, on water conservation methods and processes.
Experts in the workshop highlighted several measures to limit water consumption in Jordan, such as applying state-of-the-art water conservation technologies and enforcing appropriate legislation to reduce water loss.
Munjid Sharif, IDARA representative, underlined the importance of conserving water in reducing energy consumption, indicating that nearly 20 per cent of the energy in the Kingdom is lost in water use, pumping and transportation.
"We all, irrespective of our area of work, need to take the responsibility in reducing water use," Sharif stressed, calling for incorporating water-saving methods in building codes.
According to government figures, water loss, a key challenge facing water authorities in Jordan, costs the Kingdom around JD100 million annually.
A recent study conducted by the Department of Statistics (DoS) showed that the demand for water in the Kingdom's various sectors rose by 16.8 per cent between 1999 and 2008. Water demand for domestic purposes reached 315 million cubic metres (mcm) in 2008 compared to 231mcm in 1999, an increase of 36.2 per cent, according to the DoS.
© Jordan Times 2010
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100423075951/Public%20agencies%20tackle%20water%20conservation%20in%20Jordan/
23 April 2010
AMMAN -- Public sector representatives on Thursday drew up action plans to implement long-term comprehensive water conservation programmes in their respective institutions.
In a workshop organised by the Ministry of Water and Irrigation in cooperation with the USAID-funded IDARA Project yesterday, participants were acquainted with the recommendations of the national Water Demand Management (WDM) Policy.
"The workshops enable local government staff to tailor their respective water conservation plans to the challenges in their particular community by identifying what areas of the WDM policy can be applied," Jamal Hijazi, head of the WDM unit at the Ministry of Water and Irrigation.
He added that local experts in water management briefed participants, who represent institutions affiliated with the ministries of industry and trade and housing and public works, on water conservation methods and processes.
Experts in the workshop highlighted several measures to limit water consumption in Jordan, such as applying state-of-the-art water conservation technologies and enforcing appropriate legislation to reduce water loss.
Munjid Sharif, IDARA representative, underlined the importance of conserving water in reducing energy consumption, indicating that nearly 20 per cent of the energy in the Kingdom is lost in water use, pumping and transportation.
"We all, irrespective of our area of work, need to take the responsibility in reducing water use," Sharif stressed, calling for incorporating water-saving methods in building codes.
According to government figures, water loss, a key challenge facing water authorities in Jordan, costs the Kingdom around JD100 million annually.
A recent study conducted by the Department of Statistics (DoS) showed that the demand for water in the Kingdom's various sectors rose by 16.8 per cent between 1999 and 2008. Water demand for domestic purposes reached 315 million cubic metres (mcm) in 2008 compared to 231mcm in 1999, an increase of 36.2 per cent, according to the DoS.
© Jordan Times 2010
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100423075951/Public%20agencies%20tackle%20water%20conservation%20in%20Jordan/
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Europe ash cloud dents Gulf food supply
Published: Apr 22, 2010
DUBAI: A Gulf Arab airline ditched a massive cargo of fresh fish and the desert region's supermarkets are fretting over fruit and vegetable imports trapped in a backlog of flights created by Europe's ash cloud.
As European air space reopens to flights that were closed by the cloud of volcanic ash which drifted over from Iceland, retailers and consumers in Gulf Arab countries are literally taking stock as airlines scramble to shift a backlog of cargo and passengers that could take days or weeks to clear.
"The situation is really bad," said Gapesh Gerash, manager at Dubai-based Barakat Vegetables and Fruits, which imports 2,000 kg (4,409 lb) in air freight from Europe four times a week.
The ash cloud highlights the heavy dependence on food imports from abroad for the Gulf's nationals and the foreign expatriates seeking a taste of home, from imported Dutch tomatoes to French cheeses and Belgian chocolates.
Gulf supermarkets do rely in large part on Africa and Asia, but those imports cannot entirely make up for emerging shortages in European food supplies, especially for consumers seeking Western goods.
"We import the majority of our food from Europe, and right now the only option is some charter flights, but they are charging double the normal rate," Gerash said.
Gulf Arab airlines could lose $15 million a day over European cargo and passenger flight disruptions, said Abdul Wahab Teffaha, head of the Arab Air Carriers Organization.
"The economic value is going to be astronomical," he said.
A planeload of more than 100 tons of fish due to be exported to Europe on Dubai government-owned Emirates, the Gulf Arab region's largest airline, had to be frozen by owners due to flight cancellations, the carrier said.
Emirates, which is losing $10 million a day due to ash disruptions, said on Tuesday that 2,000 tons of cargo had been disrupted. Gulf states rely heavily on food imports from Asia, Europe, the United States and Africa, and have recently resorted to buying farmland in developing nations to ensure food security.
"From a food and drink point of view, the fact that ... most of the Gulf region ... is so reliant on imports to meet domestic demand means it is more affected by the ash cloud in terms of stocking shelf space at grocery stores," said Shonil Chande, food and drink analyst at Business Monitor International.
Spinneys, one of the biggest supermarket chains in the region, was running out of berries and said it saw a shortage in short shelf-life fresh foods from Europe and the United States.
In Kuwait, customers at one large supermarket chain were unhappy, and sometimes even rude, about not getting their regular doses of European cheese and chocolates.
"We get calls from dissatisfied customers. They complain and ask when it is coming," said Firas Hamdan, chief commercial officer of The Sultan Center.
Restaurants were also feeling the pinch, with luxury chain hotel Fairmont saying it was running short on seafood brought in via Europe and had to improvise.
"From a food and beverage standpoint, we have been affected in terms of supplies coming in. We started using regional suppliers more," a spokeswoman for Fairmont Dubai said.
Dubai, the Gulf region's trade and tourism hub, handled around 172,000 tons of cargo in February.
Michael Meagher, of Saudi Arabian Airlines cargo division, said cargo operations had been hit, with the carrier running a significant and growing backlog in Europe.
Gulf hoteliers, however, have experienced a surge in occupancy from thousands of stranded passengers since the ash cloud appeared, especially in areas close to airport.
"We have been having too many bookings. Our occupancy rate is around 90 percent when normally it is 60 percent this time of year," a representative at Dubai's Millennium hotel said.
The five-star Bustan Rotana said occupancy had shot to 100 percent from 60 percent in the past few days. "Flight delays were good news for us," a hotel manager said.
Dubai's Al-Nassma, the world's first brand of chocolate made with camel milk, said its sales were up at least 10 percent as stranded passengers indulged in the delicacy.
"There are more tourists here so we are selling more chocolates," General Manager Martin Van Almsick said.
http://arabnews.com/economy/article45865.ece
Published: Apr 22, 2010
DUBAI: A Gulf Arab airline ditched a massive cargo of fresh fish and the desert region's supermarkets are fretting over fruit and vegetable imports trapped in a backlog of flights created by Europe's ash cloud.
As European air space reopens to flights that were closed by the cloud of volcanic ash which drifted over from Iceland, retailers and consumers in Gulf Arab countries are literally taking stock as airlines scramble to shift a backlog of cargo and passengers that could take days or weeks to clear.
"The situation is really bad," said Gapesh Gerash, manager at Dubai-based Barakat Vegetables and Fruits, which imports 2,000 kg (4,409 lb) in air freight from Europe four times a week.
The ash cloud highlights the heavy dependence on food imports from abroad for the Gulf's nationals and the foreign expatriates seeking a taste of home, from imported Dutch tomatoes to French cheeses and Belgian chocolates.
Gulf supermarkets do rely in large part on Africa and Asia, but those imports cannot entirely make up for emerging shortages in European food supplies, especially for consumers seeking Western goods.
"We import the majority of our food from Europe, and right now the only option is some charter flights, but they are charging double the normal rate," Gerash said.
Gulf Arab airlines could lose $15 million a day over European cargo and passenger flight disruptions, said Abdul Wahab Teffaha, head of the Arab Air Carriers Organization.
"The economic value is going to be astronomical," he said.
A planeload of more than 100 tons of fish due to be exported to Europe on Dubai government-owned Emirates, the Gulf Arab region's largest airline, had to be frozen by owners due to flight cancellations, the carrier said.
Emirates, which is losing $10 million a day due to ash disruptions, said on Tuesday that 2,000 tons of cargo had been disrupted. Gulf states rely heavily on food imports from Asia, Europe, the United States and Africa, and have recently resorted to buying farmland in developing nations to ensure food security.
"From a food and drink point of view, the fact that ... most of the Gulf region ... is so reliant on imports to meet domestic demand means it is more affected by the ash cloud in terms of stocking shelf space at grocery stores," said Shonil Chande, food and drink analyst at Business Monitor International.
Spinneys, one of the biggest supermarket chains in the region, was running out of berries and said it saw a shortage in short shelf-life fresh foods from Europe and the United States.
In Kuwait, customers at one large supermarket chain were unhappy, and sometimes even rude, about not getting their regular doses of European cheese and chocolates.
"We get calls from dissatisfied customers. They complain and ask when it is coming," said Firas Hamdan, chief commercial officer of The Sultan Center.
Restaurants were also feeling the pinch, with luxury chain hotel Fairmont saying it was running short on seafood brought in via Europe and had to improvise.
"From a food and beverage standpoint, we have been affected in terms of supplies coming in. We started using regional suppliers more," a spokeswoman for Fairmont Dubai said.
Dubai, the Gulf region's trade and tourism hub, handled around 172,000 tons of cargo in February.
Michael Meagher, of Saudi Arabian Airlines cargo division, said cargo operations had been hit, with the carrier running a significant and growing backlog in Europe.
Gulf hoteliers, however, have experienced a surge in occupancy from thousands of stranded passengers since the ash cloud appeared, especially in areas close to airport.
"We have been having too many bookings. Our occupancy rate is around 90 percent when normally it is 60 percent this time of year," a representative at Dubai's Millennium hotel said.
The five-star Bustan Rotana said occupancy had shot to 100 percent from 60 percent in the past few days. "Flight delays were good news for us," a hotel manager said.
Dubai's Al-Nassma, the world's first brand of chocolate made with camel milk, said its sales were up at least 10 percent as stranded passengers indulged in the delicacy.
"There are more tourists here so we are selling more chocolates," General Manager Martin Van Almsick said.
http://arabnews.com/economy/article45865.ece
US’s Geithner, Gates to launch agri-fund for poor
22 April 2010,
WASHINGTON - U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Microsoft Corp co-founder Bill Gates said on Wednesday they will launch a global agricultural fund to boost food production in the developing world.
In an opinion piece, Gates and Geithner said the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program, which will be launched in Washington on Thursday, will help farmers grow more food and earn more from farming.
“As the world’s population increases in the coming years and as changes in the climate create water shortages that destroy crops, the number of people without adequate access to food is likely to increase,” Gates and Geithner wrote in the Wall Street Journal.
“As that happens, small farmers and people living in poverty will need the most help,” they wrote.
The fund was first proposed by the United States at a meeting of the Group of Eight in Italy in 2008, where it urged countries to pool their resources to invest in agriculture in the world’s poorest countries.
Gates and Geithner said commitments for the fund total nearly $900 million from now until 2012. They said Canada, Spain and South Korea would contribute funding.
The fund, which will be supervised by the World Bank, will provide financing to poor countries with high levels of food insecurity and have developed sound agricultural plans to boost crop production.
The fund will invest in infrastructure that will link farmers to markets, promote sustainable water-use management, and increase access to better seeds and technologies.
A rise in world food prices in 2008 to record levels highlighted the chronic underinvestment in agriculture in developing countries, where three-quarters of the poor live in rural areas.
Gates’ foundation has long been active in providing funding for projects to increase agricultural production of small-scale farmers in Africa and elsewhere. It has particularly been interested in improving access to food, working closely with the United Nation’s World Food Programme.
The United States is the world’s largest food aid donor. While enough food is produced in the world to end hunger, more than 1 billion people go hungry because they cannot afford to buy food or otherwise cannot access supplies.
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle08.asp?xfile=data/environment/2010/April/environment_April48.xml§ion=environment
22 April 2010,
WASHINGTON - U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Microsoft Corp co-founder Bill Gates said on Wednesday they will launch a global agricultural fund to boost food production in the developing world.
In an opinion piece, Gates and Geithner said the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program, which will be launched in Washington on Thursday, will help farmers grow more food and earn more from farming.
“As the world’s population increases in the coming years and as changes in the climate create water shortages that destroy crops, the number of people without adequate access to food is likely to increase,” Gates and Geithner wrote in the Wall Street Journal.
“As that happens, small farmers and people living in poverty will need the most help,” they wrote.
The fund was first proposed by the United States at a meeting of the Group of Eight in Italy in 2008, where it urged countries to pool their resources to invest in agriculture in the world’s poorest countries.
Gates and Geithner said commitments for the fund total nearly $900 million from now until 2012. They said Canada, Spain and South Korea would contribute funding.
The fund, which will be supervised by the World Bank, will provide financing to poor countries with high levels of food insecurity and have developed sound agricultural plans to boost crop production.
The fund will invest in infrastructure that will link farmers to markets, promote sustainable water-use management, and increase access to better seeds and technologies.
A rise in world food prices in 2008 to record levels highlighted the chronic underinvestment in agriculture in developing countries, where three-quarters of the poor live in rural areas.
Gates’ foundation has long been active in providing funding for projects to increase agricultural production of small-scale farmers in Africa and elsewhere. It has particularly been interested in improving access to food, working closely with the United Nation’s World Food Programme.
The United States is the world’s largest food aid donor. While enough food is produced in the world to end hunger, more than 1 billion people go hungry because they cannot afford to buy food or otherwise cannot access supplies.
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle08.asp?xfile=data/environment/2010/April/environment_April48.xml§ion=environment
UAE's fresh water supply drying up
21 April 2010
The natural water resources of the UAE will decrease by 16 per cent in the next decade, requiring the second-largest build-up of desalination plants in the world, a new forecast says.
The UAE's water resources per person are already the second smallest in the Middle East after Kuwait's. But demand is soaring, with the country expected to increase desalination capacity by 76 per cent by 2016, to 14.1 million cubic metres a day, says an estimate by Nomura Securities, the Japanese investment bank.
The UAE's multibillion-dollar expansion of desalination capacity over six years is second only to Saudi Arabia's, and about equal to the combined increase of Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain.
Most of the water consumed in the UAE - 82.8 per cent - is used in agriculture, a practice that experts in the country have criticised. But in the future, industry, which today accounts for only 1.7 per cent of water consumption, could be one of the main users.
"We believe the main factor determining future demand for water is likely to be industrial usage," Nomura analysts said in their outlook. "In most MENA countries it is less than 50 cubic metres per capita, substantially lower than the [Group of 8 countries'] average of 450 cubic metres."
The UAE is investing heavily in water-intensive basic industries including metals and petrochemicals as part of efforts to diversify its economy away from oil exports.
The country is already one of the biggest consumers of water in the world in spite of its scarce resources, with per capita consumption in Abu Dhabi alone at 550 litres a day, according to a study by the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi.
The UAE relies on desalination to supply 98 per cent of its water, Rashid Ahmed bin Fahad, the Minister of Environment and Water said last year.
Nomura's report came after a forecast last month by Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Company that showed water demand in the emirate alone increasing by 70 per cent by 2016 from last year's levels.
Industrial projects will account for 9.9 per cent of the increase, it said.
The country's huge consumption of water was not surprising, given that most of the water is produced as a by-product of heat from the country's power stations, said Hans Altmann, the regional director for Techem, an international metering and water management company.
The cost of building the power stations to keep up with electricity consumption is huge, Mr Altmann said, but the marginal cost of producing water was insignificant.
"If you want to eliminate the root cause of this problem, it's energy and where it's consumed: the air-conditioning," he said. "Due to many things, we don't have any incentives to save water."
But the almost complete reliance on desalination presents additional strategic risks, Mr Altmann said. "The total water reserve in the UAE is only five days. This is well known," he said. "It's a matter of national security."
Abu Dhabi and Dubai have both announced plans to expand water storage.
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100421072536/Drying%20Up%20/
21 April 2010
The natural water resources of the UAE will decrease by 16 per cent in the next decade, requiring the second-largest build-up of desalination plants in the world, a new forecast says.
The UAE's water resources per person are already the second smallest in the Middle East after Kuwait's. But demand is soaring, with the country expected to increase desalination capacity by 76 per cent by 2016, to 14.1 million cubic metres a day, says an estimate by Nomura Securities, the Japanese investment bank.
The UAE's multibillion-dollar expansion of desalination capacity over six years is second only to Saudi Arabia's, and about equal to the combined increase of Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain.
Most of the water consumed in the UAE - 82.8 per cent - is used in agriculture, a practice that experts in the country have criticised. But in the future, industry, which today accounts for only 1.7 per cent of water consumption, could be one of the main users.
"We believe the main factor determining future demand for water is likely to be industrial usage," Nomura analysts said in their outlook. "In most MENA countries it is less than 50 cubic metres per capita, substantially lower than the [Group of 8 countries'] average of 450 cubic metres."
The UAE is investing heavily in water-intensive basic industries including metals and petrochemicals as part of efforts to diversify its economy away from oil exports.
The country is already one of the biggest consumers of water in the world in spite of its scarce resources, with per capita consumption in Abu Dhabi alone at 550 litres a day, according to a study by the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi.
The UAE relies on desalination to supply 98 per cent of its water, Rashid Ahmed bin Fahad, the Minister of Environment and Water said last year.
Nomura's report came after a forecast last month by Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Company that showed water demand in the emirate alone increasing by 70 per cent by 2016 from last year's levels.
Industrial projects will account for 9.9 per cent of the increase, it said.
The country's huge consumption of water was not surprising, given that most of the water is produced as a by-product of heat from the country's power stations, said Hans Altmann, the regional director for Techem, an international metering and water management company.
The cost of building the power stations to keep up with electricity consumption is huge, Mr Altmann said, but the marginal cost of producing water was insignificant.
"If you want to eliminate the root cause of this problem, it's energy and where it's consumed: the air-conditioning," he said. "Due to many things, we don't have any incentives to save water."
But the almost complete reliance on desalination presents additional strategic risks, Mr Altmann said. "The total water reserve in the UAE is only five days. This is well known," he said. "It's a matter of national security."
Abu Dhabi and Dubai have both announced plans to expand water storage.
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100421072536/Drying%20Up%20/
Tehran, Bangui to Bolster Agricultural Cooperation
21 April 2010
Central African Republic's Foreign Minister Antoine Gambi met with Iranian Agricultural Jihad Minister Sadeq Khalilian in Tehran.
Both officials called for establishing agricultural relations between the two countries, Mehr News Agency reported on Monday.
Khalilian pointed out that the Islamic Republic was committed to enhance its relations with all African countries, adding that Iran was prepared to carry out infrastructural and agricultural projects there.
The high-ranking Iranian official said that Iran is willing to help the Central African Republic in developing agricultural mechanization, constructing small dams, reservoirs and water canals, preserving jungles and pasture lands, processing food and agricultural products and ecotourism.
Antoine Gambi stated that his country will devise a road map for all-out relations with Iranian nation.
The African diplomat went on to say that his country is aware of Iran's high capacity in industrial, agricultural and technical fields, adding that there are great opportunities for the public and private sectors of the two countries to expand cooperation.
© Iran Daily 2010
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100421052843/Tehran%2C%20Bangui%20to%20Bolster%20Agricultural%20Cooperation
21 April 2010
Central African Republic's Foreign Minister Antoine Gambi met with Iranian Agricultural Jihad Minister Sadeq Khalilian in Tehran.
Both officials called for establishing agricultural relations between the two countries, Mehr News Agency reported on Monday.
Khalilian pointed out that the Islamic Republic was committed to enhance its relations with all African countries, adding that Iran was prepared to carry out infrastructural and agricultural projects there.
The high-ranking Iranian official said that Iran is willing to help the Central African Republic in developing agricultural mechanization, constructing small dams, reservoirs and water canals, preserving jungles and pasture lands, processing food and agricultural products and ecotourism.
Antoine Gambi stated that his country will devise a road map for all-out relations with Iranian nation.
The African diplomat went on to say that his country is aware of Iran's high capacity in industrial, agricultural and technical fields, adding that there are great opportunities for the public and private sectors of the two countries to expand cooperation.
© Iran Daily 2010
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100421052843/Tehran%2C%20Bangui%20to%20Bolster%20Agricultural%20Cooperation
Kuwait: Cabinet, Parliament blamed for price rise
21 April 2010
KUWAIT: The Cabinet and Parliament share responsibility over the problem of price rise, said participants at a seminar held recently by the National Forum in Farwaniya. The event was held to discuss increasing living costs.
The state's failure in imposing effective supervision over prices, proves its failure to protect consumers in Kuwait from steep price rise and monopoly, noted the participants. They further blamed the parliament's members for addressing issues that form the main points of concerns for citizens.
And while explaining the troubles that citizens face in regards to increasing prices in various fields that include education, accommodation, health as well as food supplies, reported Al-Qabas. The participants pointed out several reasons that escalated the problem like the spread of unemployment.
Meanwhile, in a poll on Al-Watan Daily's website, 63 percent were in favor of the idea that the government should release the names of those with dual citizenships, reported Al-Watan. Of those who participated, 27 percent rejected the idea and 10 percent considered the issue unimportant. The poll, posted from April 11-18, is part of a weekly survey proposed by the website and featured participation from more than 7,500 visitors.
© Kuwait Times 2010
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100421064720/Kuwait%3A%20Cabinet%2C%20Parliament%20blamed%20for%20price%20rise/
21 April 2010
KUWAIT: The Cabinet and Parliament share responsibility over the problem of price rise, said participants at a seminar held recently by the National Forum in Farwaniya. The event was held to discuss increasing living costs.
The state's failure in imposing effective supervision over prices, proves its failure to protect consumers in Kuwait from steep price rise and monopoly, noted the participants. They further blamed the parliament's members for addressing issues that form the main points of concerns for citizens.
And while explaining the troubles that citizens face in regards to increasing prices in various fields that include education, accommodation, health as well as food supplies, reported Al-Qabas. The participants pointed out several reasons that escalated the problem like the spread of unemployment.
Meanwhile, in a poll on Al-Watan Daily's website, 63 percent were in favor of the idea that the government should release the names of those with dual citizenships, reported Al-Watan. Of those who participated, 27 percent rejected the idea and 10 percent considered the issue unimportant. The poll, posted from April 11-18, is part of a weekly survey proposed by the website and featured participation from more than 7,500 visitors.
© Kuwait Times 2010
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100421064720/Kuwait%3A%20Cabinet%2C%20Parliament%20blamed%20for%20price%20rise/
"From Crop to Cup" - Coffee Planet confirms access to its own coffee plantations.
Coffee Planet confirms its position as No.1 specialty coffee provider
20 April 2010
Dubai UAE: Coffee Planet LLC, the successful Dubai based coffee solutions provider, announced a further extension to its business with complete access to its own coffee growing plantations in Central America through the Coffee Planet Corporation of Honduras. Already the leading provider of specialty grade coffees in the Middle East, Coffee Planet has become a ground breaking model for the coffee industry in the region as they continue to develop holistic coffee solutions as they deliver the product from the source to the end consumer. Coffee Planet is expanding the availability of its high quality and fresh coffee across the UAE and the rest of the Middle East.
"This is a tremendously exciting day for us. It's a dream come true to be sourcing our green coffee beans directly from our own plantations. Only by being in control of your raw product can you guarantee the quality of the end product that the customer drinks from their cup" said Mr. Richard Jones, Managing Director, Coffee Planet.
Social improvement is one of the main driving forces of the Coffee Planet team. Working ethically with farmers, paying a fair price for their product and investing time and effort with them in quality improvements is more than just a label on their packaging. Coffee Planet believes that to trade fairly, it is important to get involved directly with the farmers and experience firsthand the struggles they endure on a daily basis. A lot more work goes into fair trade than just working with external organizations that provide supposed Fair Trade Products.
"We're very proud to be associated with such a wonderful coffee growing nation like Honduras. So little is known about the country and yet they are such brilliant people who grow some amazing coffees. Coffee is their livelihood and we hope to be able to increase awareness of the country, its people and to help make improvements to the working conditions of the community," said Richard Jones on his return from Honduras.
An important factor in Coffee Planet's success to date is their state of the art roasting plant that ensures fresh, high quality coffee always reaches the end consumer. Coffee Planet has now taken this a step further by growing their own coffee, which they blend, roast and deliver straight to our mugs!
Coffee Planet has built itself a very strong reputation since its inception - "We just wanted to be different to everybody else and we did that by starting out in fuel station convenience store and offering high quality self-serve and fresh coffee drinks. It's about convenience and availability...and of course, a great cup of coffee," said Richard Jones.
As well as over 130 fuel stations, Coffee Planet now provides its own roasted coffee to a vast array of top hotels and restaurants, offices and a growing number of its own Coffee Planet branded retail outlets across the UAE. Coffee Planet is continuing to build their brand awareness and position themselves as the No 1 coffee provider in the Middle East.
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100420055656/From%20Crop%20to%20Cup%20-%20Coffee%20Planet
%20confirms%20access%20to%20its%20own%20coffee
%20plantations%20/
Coffee Planet confirms its position as No.1 specialty coffee provider
20 April 2010
Dubai UAE: Coffee Planet LLC, the successful Dubai based coffee solutions provider, announced a further extension to its business with complete access to its own coffee growing plantations in Central America through the Coffee Planet Corporation of Honduras. Already the leading provider of specialty grade coffees in the Middle East, Coffee Planet has become a ground breaking model for the coffee industry in the region as they continue to develop holistic coffee solutions as they deliver the product from the source to the end consumer. Coffee Planet is expanding the availability of its high quality and fresh coffee across the UAE and the rest of the Middle East.
"This is a tremendously exciting day for us. It's a dream come true to be sourcing our green coffee beans directly from our own plantations. Only by being in control of your raw product can you guarantee the quality of the end product that the customer drinks from their cup" said Mr. Richard Jones, Managing Director, Coffee Planet.
Social improvement is one of the main driving forces of the Coffee Planet team. Working ethically with farmers, paying a fair price for their product and investing time and effort with them in quality improvements is more than just a label on their packaging. Coffee Planet believes that to trade fairly, it is important to get involved directly with the farmers and experience firsthand the struggles they endure on a daily basis. A lot more work goes into fair trade than just working with external organizations that provide supposed Fair Trade Products.
"We're very proud to be associated with such a wonderful coffee growing nation like Honduras. So little is known about the country and yet they are such brilliant people who grow some amazing coffees. Coffee is their livelihood and we hope to be able to increase awareness of the country, its people and to help make improvements to the working conditions of the community," said Richard Jones on his return from Honduras.
An important factor in Coffee Planet's success to date is their state of the art roasting plant that ensures fresh, high quality coffee always reaches the end consumer. Coffee Planet has now taken this a step further by growing their own coffee, which they blend, roast and deliver straight to our mugs!
Coffee Planet has built itself a very strong reputation since its inception - "We just wanted to be different to everybody else and we did that by starting out in fuel station convenience store and offering high quality self-serve and fresh coffee drinks. It's about convenience and availability...and of course, a great cup of coffee," said Richard Jones.
As well as over 130 fuel stations, Coffee Planet now provides its own roasted coffee to a vast array of top hotels and restaurants, offices and a growing number of its own Coffee Planet branded retail outlets across the UAE. Coffee Planet is continuing to build their brand awareness and position themselves as the No 1 coffee provider in the Middle East.
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100420055656/From%20Crop%20to%20Cup%20-%20Coffee%20Planet
%20confirms%20access%20to%20its%20own%20coffee
%20plantations%20/
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