In the coming 50 years the world will have to produce and sell as much food as it did in the past 4,000, a food security expert says.
“It’s a challenging time at the moment because when we look ahead, the world will change considerably,” said Dr Aalt Dijkhuizen, president of Topsector Agri and Food in the Netherlands.
“Three billion people will move from low income to middle class and this has the biggest effect in the short term because it means in the coming 40 to 50 years, we have to produce and sell as much food as we did in the past 4,000 years. It’s amazing.”
Topsector Agri and Food is a collaboration and innovation network between government, private partners and research institutes.
The Netherlands, the second-biggest food exporter after the US, is one of the countries with which the UAE has formed partnerships to help secure its food in the future. The UAE imports about 90 per cent of its food requirements.
In February last year, Sultan Al Mansoori, the Minister of Economy, visited the Netherlands where both countries signed an agreement on food innovation co-operation.
There is expected to be a tremendous increase in demand for high-quality protein. Demand for vegetables, dairy products and meat is set to double.
“It’s a big challenge but also a big opportunity for people in the food and agriculture industry,” Dr Dijkhuizen said. “It’s doable but a lot of work needs to be done.
“The total land for agriculture will decline and resources will become more limited so we have to do better. It sounds easy but doing more of the same is much easier than doing better.
“The entire world needs to produce food in a better way, and that takes a generation.”
The Netherlands, a small country of 45,000 square kilometres, surpassed €100 billion (Dh452.9bn) in exports last year. The country gets five times more value from every hectare than the rest of Europe.
“We produce a lot ourselves, like dairy and meat, but also import a lot of ingredients like soil, so it’s a combination of our own production and import,” Dr Dijkhuizen said.
“Our biggest sector is horticulture and livestock, and we don’t have a lot of extensive production systems or a lot of arable land. Our land and labour is too expensive, so each square metre should be used as much as possible.
“We have high levels of production and a short production chain so everything is planned ahead. This was the only way for the Dutch sector to survive, by being ahead in innovation.”
Wageningen University and Research Centre is the only university in the Netherlands to focus on healthy food. The institute, which opened in 1876, consistently ranks as one of the world’s top universities and is considered one of the best in the world in life sciences.
“We use the lowest amount of land per kilogramme of food,” Dr Dijkhuizen said. “Because we are so productive, we can do a lot with 1 litre of water or 1 kilogram of soil, so greenhouse gas emissions are very low per kilogramme of product.
“It’s an everlasting incremental improvement in all the fields in all areas of the chain and a tremendous chain of small steps, which is why it takes so much time for countries that need to speed it up now.
“You need to have knowledge, the right facilities, input and processing industry.”
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Read more:
How to feed the world: six foods to sustain a growing population
Opinion: Producing more food in the UAE can help us maintain food security in the long term
How RAK's Digdagga experimental farm revolutionised agriculture in the 1960s
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These constant improvements include better breeds and seeds, machinery, equipment such as greenhouses, housing systems, animal dry feed, crop protection and health management and storage.
To establish such practices requires a long-term commitment between public and private sectors and researchers from an early stage.
“It’s the so-called triple helix,” Dr Dijkhuizen said. “We also have 400 ingredients in the feed for our cattle, pork and poultry, with waste and leftovers from the food industry that are used to make quality feed.”
But priorities have to be set together. The Dutch government does not spend a lot on research and development. It is up to the public-private partnerships to set goals and invest together, “because when you do, you come further” the doctor said.
The Netherlands regularly welcomes students from hundreds of countries, including some from the UAE. It has made food, water and energy its top priorities since 2010 because, “at the end of the day that’s what people need”.
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The Dutch centre where excellence regularly crops up
Wageningen University and Research Centre focuses on agro-technology and food sciences as well as animal, environmental, plant and social sciences.
Its approach is to focus on the economy, defining areas where it is strong and building on them.
Its funding is split between the government and private industry, which includes up to €200 million (Dh902.2m) for research and development in agriculture and food. It also receives resources from the EU.
Every four years, the centre redefines its priorities. Some of the new technology it envisages are sensors, drones and robotics to more precisely measure the food production process, the use of fertiliser and water management, in the hope that they will allow farmers to be able to detect diseases in crops and animals earlier and act immediately.
Technology will allow efficient cooling, transport and storage because intelligent systems can measure ambient temperatures and adjust accordingly to save energy.
Genomics enables genes to breed faster, have tailor-made management of crops and animals and personalised nutrition for consumers.
The centre ranked first in agriculture and forestry in the QS World University Rankings 2017 to 2018.
Wageningen University and Research, with one faculty, five departments, 85 chair groups, 224 professors and 10,000 students, was 65th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings in 2016 to 2017.
RESULTS
Bantamweight
Victor Nunes (BRA) beat Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK)
(Split decision)
Featherweight
Hussein Salim (IRQ) beat Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)
(Round 1 submission, armbar)
Catchweight 80kg
Rashed Dawood (UAE) beat Otabek Kadirov (UZB)
(Round-1 submission, rear naked choke)
Lightweight
Ho Taek-oh (KOR) beat Ronald Girones (CUB)
(Round 3 submission, triangle choke)
Lightweight
Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) beat Damien Lapilus (FRA)
(Unanimous points)
Bantamweight
Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) beat Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)
(Round 1 TKO)
Featherweight
Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)
(Round 1 rear naked choke)
Flyweight
Shannon Ross (TUR) beat Donovon Freelow (USA)
(Unanimous decision)
Lightweight
Dan Collins (GBR) beat Mohammad Yahya (UAE)
(Round 2 submission D’arce choke)
Catchweight 73kg
Martun Mezhulmyan (ARM) beat Islam Mamedov (RUS)
(Round 3 submission, kneebar)
Bantamweight world title
Xavier Alaoui (MAR) beat Jaures Dea (CAM)
(Unanimous points 48-46, 49-45, 49-45)
Flyweight world title
Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)
(Round 1 RSC)
Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
England World Cup squad
Eoin Morgan (capt), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wkt), Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Vince, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Read more about the coronavirus
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press
ARGENTINA SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Franco Armani, Agustin Marchesin, Esteban Andrada
Defenders: Juan Foyth, Nicolas Otamendi, German Pezzella, Nicolas Tagliafico, Ramiro Funes Mori, Renzo Saravia, Marcos Acuna, Milton Casco
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes, Guido Rodriguez, Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Roberto Pereyra, Rodrigo De Paul, Angel Di Maria
Forwards: Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Lautaro Martinez, Paulo Dybala, Matias Suarez
Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
Rory Reynolds
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Equinox
Price, base / as tested: Dh76,900 / Dh110,900
Engine: 2.0L, turbocharged in-line four-cylinder
Gearbox: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 252hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: Torque: 352Nm @ 2,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.5L / 100km
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.6-litre turbo
Transmission: six-speed automatic
Power: 165hp
Torque: 240Nm
Price: From Dh89,000 (Enjoy), Dh99,900 (Innovation)
On sale: Now
The National in Davos
We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.
What is a robo-adviser?
Robo-advisers use an online sign-up process to gauge an investor’s risk tolerance by feeding information such as their age, income, saving goals and investment history into an algorithm, which then assigns them an investment portfolio, ranging from more conservative to higher risk ones.
These portfolios are made up of exchange traded funds (ETFs) with exposure to indices such as US and global equities, fixed-income products like bonds, though exposure to real estate, commodity ETFs or gold is also possible.
Investing in ETFs allows robo-advisers to offer fees far lower than traditional investments, such as actively managed mutual funds bought through a bank or broker. Investors can buy ETFs directly via a brokerage, but with robo-advisers they benefit from investment portfolios matched to their risk tolerance as well as being user friendly.
Many robo-advisers charge what are called wrap fees, meaning there are no additional fees such as subscription or withdrawal fees, success fees or fees for rebalancing.
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
