Doha, October 30 (QNA) – The Center for Sustainable Development at Qatar University (QU) organized the third International Sustainability Conference (ISC 2022), which focuses on all topics related to food security and food systems in Qatar and worldwide in terms of improving food quantity, quality and sustainability of production systems.
The event was attended by Prof. Ahmed Elzatahry, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) in QU as well as a group of researchers, stakeholders and other senior officials.
This event is organized in a time the global population is growing and the pressure on our planets limited natural resources is increasing, and sustainable development has become an important global and regional target.
In the Qatar National Vision 2030, sustainable development is one of the main pillars, focusing on aspects of finding a balance between preserving the environment, managing natural resources, and economic and social developments.
In his speech, Professor in CAS Haitham Abou Saleh said that Qatar has a hot and dry desert climate and therefore faces significant challenges in its food and water security, such as the lack of arable land, low soil fertility and the scarcity of natural water resources. In addition, agriculture in Qatar faces many challenges to meet growing domestic needs, noting that there is a missed opportunity to recycle waste and that this opportunity should be taken advantage of.
He pointed out that all these challenges, including Qatar’s food security are absolute national priority, and the government is committed to reducing the country’s dependence on food imports by working to develop self-sufficiency in local production.In this context, the Ministry of Municipality and Environment has set ambitious targets for 2023. It should be noted that Qatar has become 100% self-sufficient in fresh dairy and poultry products since 2019.”
He added that the Center for Sustainable Development at the College of Arts and Sciences at QU is working to find sustainable and integrated solutions to these pressing problems in the State of Qatar through continuous research to develop advanced technological solutions. These research solutions can help agricultural activities achieve food security, address environmental challenges and sustainability by leveraging renewable energies, by-product treatment and waste recycling technologies, treated water use, and advances in monitoring and artificial intelligence technologies.
The Director of the Center for Sustainable Development Prof. Sami AlSayadi gave an overview of the Center and presented the research programs, objectives and the prominent activities and research that the Center undertakes to achieve food security. (QNA)