Fourth Annual Derasat Forum: Strategies to Attain Food Security
The Fourth Derasat Forum concluded on June 23rd, 2021, held online under the title,“Strategies to Attain Food Security: Challenges and Opportunities”. The forum presented potential solutions and recommendations for improving national and regional food security. Experts from the region shared policy and program experiences and gave a comprehensive overview of the situation and of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Derasat’s Fourth Annual Forum (Virtual Edition)
Strategies to Attain Food Security: Challenges and Opportunities
Forum Theme – Overview
Food security plays a significant role in all national security strategies. Despite the Arab Gulf States’, including the Kingdom of Bahrain, concern to meeting food security requirements, the challenges posed by the pandemic, most prominently the breakdown in food import chains from exporting countries in lockdown, have revealed the importance of alternative options, not only to maintain food security but as a national priority and part of a comprehensive national security policy.
The Arab Gulf States have employed several policies to meet food security requirements such as utilizing technology to grow crops, expanding the construction of food factories, and investing in land abroad, for instance, agricultural investments in Sudan. However, there remains a set of challenges, be these related to the natural condition of the Arabian Gulf such as water scarcity and climate change; or imposed by the pandemic with its unique challenges, as well as economic challenges, for example, the rising costs of food imports and the resulting impact on GCC budgets. Some reports indicate importing food to the Arab Gulf States had risen from USD 25.8 billion in 2010 to USD 53.1 billion in 2020. Given the fast-paced population growth in these countries, an increase in the food supply gap is anticipated posing a monumental challenge in face of additional security threats such as those to strategic maritime corridors, (e.g., the Straits of Hormuz and Bab-al-Mandab), on which the Gulf’s international commerce relies.
The pandemic and additional crises, like the Beirut Port explosion that threatened critical food stores, raise important questions: What are the best means to achieve food security in Bahrain and the GCC? How can countries mitigate and build resilience to crises for the future? Is there a need for more coordinated strategies, organizations, or legislations?
DERASAT FORUM 2021 – OPENING SESSION SPEAKERS
(Profiles are on the Arabic Website)
H.E. Mrs. Fawzia bint Abdullah Zainal
Speaker, House of Representatives, Bahrain
H.E. Mr. Ali bin Saleh Al-Saleh.
President, Shura Council, Bahrain
H.E. Sh. Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa
Deputy Prime Minister, Bahrain
H.E. Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa
Chairman, Board of Trustees, Derasat, Bahrain
DERASAT FORUM 2021 – ROUNDTABLE SPEAKERS
(Profiles are on the Arabic Website)
H.E. Eng. Essam bin Abdullah Khalaf
Minister of the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, Bahrain
H.E. Mr. Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani
Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Bahrain
MODERATOR
Dr. Hamad Ebrahim Al-Abdulla
Executive Director, Bahrain
Day 1: Food Security in the Kingdom of Bahrain – Concept and Mechanisms
Session 1: The Concept and Reality of Food Security in the Kingdom of Bahrain
Monday 21st June, 2021: 10.45am – 12.00pm
This session aims to describe the overall food security challenge in Bahrain, and the related developments imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic as a challenge that halted supply chains in some countries. Food security’s content and aspects will be identified, besides the method by which this form of security can be fulfilled, through identifying the government parties concerned with planning for this issue – whether by establishing companies in this field or other procedures. More importantly, present capabilities, challenges and confronting them will be analyzed. The discussion is expected to revolve around:
food security.
1- The concept of achieving food security in Bahrain, and why it became a current priority.
2- Features of government plans to achieve short- and long-term food security, and the role of the legislative authority in this regard.
3- Available capabilities to achieve food security and how sufficient they are.
4- The most important challenges facing Bahrain in its path to achieve food security.
SPEAKERS
(Profiles on Arabic Website)
H.E. Dr. Nabil Muhammad Abu AlFateh
Undersecretary for Agriculture and Marine Resources
Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, Bahrain
H.E. Mrs. Dalal bint Jassim Al-Zayed
Chairman, Legislative & Legal Affairs Committee, Shura Council, Bahrain
Sh. Hamad Bin Salman Al-Khalifa
Assistant Undersecretary for Domestic & Foreign Trade
Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Bahrain
MODERATOR
Dr. Abdulla Yateem
Senior Research Fellow, Derasat, Bahrain
Day 1: Food Security in the Kingdom of Bahrain – Concept and Mechanisms
Session 2: Enhancing Food Security through Local Entrepreneurship
Monday 21st June, 2021: 12.00pm – 13.15pm
According to the guidance of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, the King of Bahrain, there is a significant need for private sector organizations to participate with their government counterparts in achieving food security in the Kingdom; and hence, this session aims to study some Bahraini entrepreneurial experiences in this area, by looking at their initiation and development, and how they have contributed to this goal.
The discussion is expected to revolve around:
1- The significance of the private sector’s role in investing in food security.
2- The extent of complementarity in Government-Corporate efforts to achieve food security.
3- Requirements to motivate the private sector to work in the field of food security.
4- Prominent experiences by entrepreneurs to achieve food security in Bahrain, especially during the challenge of the pandemic.
SPEAKERS
(Profiles on Arabic Website)
H.E. Mr. Samir Abdulla Nass
Chairman, Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry
H.E. Shaikha Maram bint Isa Al Khalifa
Secretary General, National Initiative for the Development of the Agricultural Sector, Bahrain
Mr. Ibrahim Mohammed Zainal
Chairman of the Board of Trustees, TRAFCO Group, Bahrain
Mr. Ahmed Bucheeri
Principal Architect & Managing Director, Gulf House Engineering (GHE), Bahrain
MODERATOR
Dr. Abdulla Yateem
Senior Research Fellow, Derasat, Bahrain
Day 2 – Food Security: Gulf and Regional Experiences
Session 1: Food Security Mechanisms in the Gulf
Tuesday 22nd June: 10.30am – 11.45am
This session aims to discuss joint Gulf cooperation frameworks to achieve food security, especially following the Gulf Cooperation Council’s approval of Kuwait’s proposal to establish a unified food security network for Arabian Gulf States; and preparing a study in this regard, given the similar circumstances shared throughout the GCC member states. This session also aims to specify shared factors that resemble foundations upon which GCC food security can be reached. The discussion is expected to revolve around:
1- Shared elements that support GCC member states in their pursuit to achieve food security.
2- Requirements to implement Kuwait’s proposal to establish a unified food security network for Arabian Gulf States.
3- The biggest challenges facing Arabian Gulf States in food security.
4- The time span required to achieve comprehensive food security in the Arabian Gulf States, given the continuous and challenging implications of the pandemic.
SPEAKERS
(Profiles on Arabic Website)
Dr. Jehad Al Fadhal
Vice President of the Parliamentary Network for Food Security and Nutrition in Africa and the Arab World
Chairman of Services Committee, Shura Council, Bahrain
Mr. Hussain bin Ali bin Omar Al Ibrahim
Director, Agriculture & Food Dept. – Economic Affairs, General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
Saudi Arabia
Mr. Saleh Mohammed Al-Shanfari
Chairman of the Food Security Committee
Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Oman
Ms Sonya Janahi
Board Member for the West Asian Business Owners Group, International Labour Organisation
Board Member, Bahrain Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Dr. Ashraf Keshk
Research Fellow, Head of Strategic & International Studies, Derasat
Day 2 – Food Security: Gulf and Regional Experiences
Session 2: Regional Experiences to Counter the Food Security Challenge
Tuesday 22nd June: 11.45am – 13.00pm
Given how several Arab countries are facing the challenge of food security, and how Arabian Gulf States are integral to and interacting with the region; there is a need to identify these countries’ experiences in countering the food security challenge. There might be experiences similar to – or slightly different than – experiences of the GCC, however, it is important when facing common challenges to assimilate and utilize the lessons learned.
The discussion is expected to revolve around:
1- Similarities and differences between food security crises in some Arab countries and Arabian Gulf States.
2- Major plans enacted by Arab countries to address food security.
3- Main lessons learned and reflected by these Arab plans and strategies according to Arabian Gulf States.
4- Integration mechanisms between Arabian Gulf States and Arab countries to achieve food security.
SPEAKERS
(Profiles on Arabic Website)
HE Mr. Khalil Tawfiq Al-Hajj
Chairman, Amman Chamber of Commerce, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Dr. Hussain Mansour
Chairman, Food Safety Committee, Egypt
Dr. Sahar Albahaei
Director of the Centre for Planning & Environmental Development, Institute of National Planning (INP), Egypt
Dr. Ashraf Keshk
Research Fellow, Head of Strategic & International Studies, Derasat
Day 3 – Towards Integrated Strategies to Meet Global and Comprehensive Food Security
Session 1: Food Security as a Sustainable Development Requisite
Wednesday 23rd June: 10.30am – 11.45am
Given food security’s link to achieving wider sustainable development, the significance of analyzing this link between both issues rises, and how food security contributes to fulfilling sustainable development goals; especially in how food security is linked to citizens’ basic needs. The discussion is expected to revolve around:
1- The importance of food security as an anchor to achieve sustainable development, with clarifying examples.
2- Required mechanisms to achieve food security within sustainable development plans.
3- Requirements currently available or anticipated to achieve food security within sustainable development.
4- Pointing out food security achievement models within sustainable development.chieve food security.
SPEAKERS
(Profiles on Arabic Website)
Prof. Walid Khalil Zebari
Professor of Water Resources
Arabian Gulf University (AGU), Bahrain
Dr. Selwa AlThawadi
Head of the Life Sciences Department, College of Science
University of Bahrain (UOB)
Noura AlHebsi
Research Fellow, TRENDS Advisory & Research, UAE
Dr. Omar Al-Ubaidly
Head of Studies & Research, Director of Economics, Derasat
Day 3 – Towards Integrated Strategies to Meet Global and Comprehensive Food Security
Session 2: The Role of International Organizations in Achieving Food Security
Wednesday 23rd June: 11.45am – 13.00pm
Despite the national attention to achieving food security by every country, or through regional cooperation, there are international organizations concerned with this issue; among which are the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Committee on World Food Security, and the reports and recommendations they publish that are considered important to countries in their pursuit to achieve food security.
The discussion is expected to revolve around:
1- The role performed by international organizations to achieve food security.
2- The role of regional organizations in achieving food security.
3- Existing and required integration mechanisms between regional and global frameworks to achieve food security.
4- How to increase countries’ utilization of those organizations’ roles in achieving food security.d security.
SPEAKERS
Mr. Mohamed El Zarkani is the United Nations Resident Coordinator a.i and Chief of Mission of IOM in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Mohamed acquired his BA in International Relations from Webster University in the Netherlands in 2004. From 2004-2010 he has worked with various prominent Egyptian NGOs pioneering the first incubator of social enterprises in the Middle East and North Africa. Through his work with Egyptian NGOs, Mohamed has managed multiple national and regional projects in the employment and skills enhancement sectors. Mohamed joined the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 2010 to lead a Joint Project between the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), UNDP, and the Egyptian Ministry of Local Development aiming to establish a Local Economic Development framework for the Government of Egypt. Since joining IOM in 2013, he has served as programme manager for a community stabilization initiative covering Egypt, Tunisia and Libya, and as Head of Programmes in IOM Kuwait, managing projects in areas of human development and labour mobility, as well as migrant protection and assistance. Since joining IOM Bahrain in 2018, Mohamed has been responsible for developing and promoting the full range of IOM services according to the priorities of the Government of Bahrain. Leveraging Bahrain’s role as a Regional Centre for Excellence in combatting Trafficking in Persons, Mohamed has also established IOM technical support programmes with the Human Rights Commission in Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization in UAE. As of November 2020, Mohamed has been serving as the the United Nations Resident Coordinator a.i in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Mr. Stefano Pettinato is the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Kingdom of Bahrain. He also covered functions as UN Resident Coordinator a.i. in Bahrain between March and November 2020. Before that, he served as UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Bahrain in 2017 and 2018. His career at UNDP included assignments as Deputy Resident Representative for El Salvador and Belize, Regional Policy Adviser on Social Policy and Human Development at UNDP’s Regional Centre in Panama and the Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean in New York, and Policy Adviser in UNDP’s Human Development Report Office in New York. He co-authored the 2003 and 2004 editions of the Global Human Development Report. Before joining UNDP, Mr. Pettinato worked at the Inter-American Development Bank, the World Bank, the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. He also served as a Research Fellow at the Brookings Institution and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, DC, and as a consultant at SWIFT. He is author of the book “Happiness and Hardship: Opportunity and Insecurity in New Market Economies” with Carol Graham (Brookings Press, 2002) and has published several articles and book chapters on poverty, inequality, subjective well-being, and social security reform. Mr. Pettinato graduated summa cum laude from the University of Florence in an MA on Development and Public Economics and obtained a second Master’s Degree in International Economics from the Johns Hopkins University.
Dr. Armen Sedrakyan has over 15 years of professional experience in implementing rural development programmes focused on analysis of food security, agricultural policy. Before joining FAO Subregional Office for the Gulf Cooperation Council States and Yemen as Economist, he was the Policy Officer (FIRST – Food and Nutrition Security Impact, Resilience, Sustainability and Transformation Programme) in the Kyrgyz Republic providing technical assistance in the formulation of the Food Security and Nutrition Programme in Kyrgyzstan for 2019-2023. From 2015 to 2017, he worked in Bangladesh in the Meeting the Undernutrition Challenge Project in his capacity as Food Security Policy Expert, contributing to the monitoring of the Country Investment Plan for Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition 2011-2016 of Bangladesh. From 2011 to 2012 he was Chief Technical Advisor in Tajikistan of the EU/FAO project on Support to Strengthening of the Food Security Information System. From 2005 to 2011 he was FAO National Professional Officer coordinating the capacity strengthening projects for agriculture and rural development of Armenia. He graduated in International Economics from the Yerevan State University and is a Doctor of Economics from the Research Institute of Agricultural Economics of the Republic of Armenia.
Dr. Omar Al-Ubaydli is Director of Studies and Research, and Director of Economics and Energy Studies. He previously worked as an Assistant Professor of Economics at George Mason University, USA, as well as being a member of Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell’s Joint Advisory Board of Economists. Dr. Al-Ubaydli received his BA in Economics from the University of Cambridge (Queens’ College) and his MA and PhD in Economics from the University of Chicago. Dr. Al-Ubaydli’s research has been published in several international, peer-reviewed journals and has been featured by media outlets including the Economist magazine.
Presentations in Arabic can be found on the Arabic side of the website.
Day 1, Session 2
Mr. Ahmed Bucheeri, Principal Architect & Managing Director, Gulf House Engineering (GHE), Bahrain
Day2, Session 1
Media coverage – Arabic only
Media coverage – Arabic only
Media coverage – Arabic only
Media coverage – Arabic only
Media coverage – Arabic only