Mariam Al Mheiri is head of the International Affairs Office of the Presidential Court, and a member of the International Humanitarian and Philanthropic Council
October 16, 2024
With 2024 projected to be the hottest year on record, the impact of climate change on global food systems is more urgent than ever. Climate change is affecting every region of the world, but its most immediate and profound effects are being felt in our food systems. Rising temperatures increasingly jeopardise our ability to feed a growing global population.
We need swift and transformative action to ensure our food systems are resilient, inclusive and sustainable. These systems must reduce emissions while safeguarding the millions of smallholder farmers who are on the frontlines of climate change.
It's essential to create a food system that can meet the demand of the present and future. Getty Images
On this World Food Day, it’s crucial to acknowledge that global food systems are ill-prepared for the future. Farmers are the cornerstone of global food production, yet they are among the most vulnerable to climate-related disruptions. Without immediate, substantial investment in food security, the consequences could be dire, affecting millions of lives and destabilising economies worldwide. We must invest in solutions that help farmers adapt, securing their livelihoods while creating a food system that can meet both present and future demands.
On this World Food Day, it’s crucial to acknowledge that global food systems are ill-prepared for the future
Extreme weather events – floods, droughts and heatwaves – are already wreaking havoc on crop yields. These challenges, combined with geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions, put immense pressure on an already strained system. The resilience of our global food supply depends on our ability to support smallholder farmers, who form the backbone of agriculture yet often lack the resources to cope with a changing climate.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN and World Economic Forum have warned that climate change could drastically reduce global crop yields, with some estimates predicting a 30 per cent decline by mid-century, especially in regions vulnerable to extreme weather. Smallholder farmers, who produce 70 per cent of the world’s food, face disproportionate risks from these climate effects, threatening both their livelihoods and global food security.
The need to address climate change and its impact on agriculture is urgent. At Cop28, a powerful political commitment was made to address the interlinked challenges of climate, food and agriculture. The Cop28 Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate Action was endorsed by 160 nations, representing more than 80 per cent of the global agricultural gross domestic product, 70 per cent of the world’s farmers, and 80 per cent of agriculture-related emissions.
The UAE, recognising the urgency of addressing food security, has formed key global partnerships aimed at driving sustainable agricultural practices. One such collaboration, launched at Cop28 with the Gates Foundation and CGIAR, seeks to make farmers more resilient to climate shocks and contribute to global food security. This partnership, a $200 million initiative over four years, uses innovative technologies – such as AI and desert farming techniques – to help smallholder farmers adapt to climate change, with a focus on regions in the Global South where the need is most critical.
Through this partnership, the UAE will tackle critical challenges such as pest migration and infestations, which are expected to become more frequent due to climate change. The initiative will also focus on developing and testing innovative farming techniques that maximise productivity and nutritional output in arid environments.
By harnessing the power of AI, the UAE aims to provide actionable solutions to both food and climate challenges, helping farmers make better decisions and optimise opportunities. Additionally, the partnership will provide support to countries in implementing their own food and climate goals, ensuring that national aspirations are met with practical and scalable solutions.
Takeaway hummus at a Dubai restaurant. By prioritising sustainable food systems, we can ensuring our tables remain full. AFP
These collaborations also promote agricultural innovation, enabling farmers to adopt climate-smart practices such as drought-resistant crops and precision agriculture. The UAE’s National Food Security Strategy 2051 underscores its commitment to building sustainable food systems through technology, innovation and international co-operation. This leadership exemplifies the country’s dedication to addressing the twin challenges of climate change and food security.
Historically, food security has been underfunded, but this can no longer be ignored. The food system contributes more than one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions, making it crucial for both climate action and economic stability. Yet philanthropic funding for food systems is a mere fraction of overall climate financing, which itself falls short of addressing the scale of the crisis.
The UAE’s partnerships with global organisations highlight how targeted investments can foster change, safeguarding global food supplies while promoting economic resilience. Investing in food security not only feeds people but transforms communities and economies. Thriving farmers lead to thriving local economies, creating jobs and fostering social stability. Agricultural innovations – such as smart irrigation systems and climate-resilient crops – are already making a difference, helping farmers adapt to changing weather patterns and secure their futures.
If we fail to act now, what will our food systems look like in 10 or 20 years? Without serious investment, staple crops such as wheat, rice and corn could become scarce, expensive, or both. Rising food prices will hit the poorest the hardest, leading to widespread hunger and potential social unrest. The time to act is now. By prioritising sustainable food systems, we can prevent this future, ensuring our tables remain full, our communities prosper, and our farmers are empowered to feed the world.
On this World Food Day, let’s unite in our commitment to placing food security at the forefront of the global agenda. Our planet’s future – and the future of our dinner tables – depends on the actions we take today.
Day 1, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Dimuth Karunaratne had batted with plenty of pluck, and no little skill, in getting to within seven runs of a first-day century. Then, while he ran what he thought was a comfortable single to mid-on, his batting partner Dinesh Chandimal opted to stay at home. The opener was run out by the length of the pitch.
Stat of the day - 1 One six was hit on Day 1. The boundary was only breached 18 times in total over the course of the 90 overs. When it did arrive, the lone six was a thing of beauty, as Niroshan Dickwella effortlessly clipped Mohammed Amir over the square-leg boundary.
The verdict Three wickets down at lunch, on a featherbed wicket having won the toss, and Sri Lanka’s fragile confidence must have been waning. Then Karunaratne and Chandimal's alliance of precisely 100 gave them a foothold in the match. Dickwella’s free-spirited strokeplay meant the Sri Lankans were handily placed at 227 for four at the close.
He became the first Emirati to climb Mount Everest in 2011, from the south section in Nepal
He ascended Mount Everest the next year from the more treacherous north Tibetan side
By 2015, he had completed the Explorers Grand Slam
Last year, he conquered K2, the world’s second-highest mountain located on the Pakistan-Chinese border
He carries dried camel meat, dried dates and a wheat mixture for the final summit push
His new goal is to climb 14 peaks that are more than 8,000 metres above sea level
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday Hertha Berlin v Union Berlin (11.30pm)
Saturday Freiburg v Borussia Monchengladbach, Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Dortmund, Cologne v Wolfsburg, Arminia Bielefeld v Mainz (6.30pm) Bayern Munich v RB Leipzig (9.30pm)
Sunday Werder Bremen v Stuttgart (6.30pm), Schalke v Bayer Leverkusen (9pm)
Monday Hoffenheim v Augsburg (11.30pm)
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring:Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
Real Madrid 1
Ronaldo (87')
Athletic Bilbao 1
Williams (14')
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Stars: Tiger Shroff, Tara Sutaria, Ananya Pandey, Aditya Seal
1.5 stars
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Specs
Engine: 3.0L twin-turbo V6 Gearbox: 10-speed automatic Power: 405hp at 5,500rpm Torque: 562Nm at 3,000rpm Fuel economy, combined: 11.2L/100km Price: From Dh292,845 (Reserve); from Dh320,145 (Presidential) On sale: Now
