@fao-SNG FAO UAE celebrates WFD2016 with the ministry of environment and climate change

Abu Dhabi 22/10/2016

This year’s World Food Day celebrations in UAE were marked by a very successful event, where the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change joined efforts with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The two entities had a strong presence at the exhibition and workshop held at the Islamic Botanical Garden in Sharjah. The event reflected WFD 2016 theme:  “The Climate is Changing – Food and Agriculture must too.”

Visitors and students were introduced to this year’s theme, through a set of jointly branded products, ranging from specialised brochures about the linkage between Climate Change and the needed action on food and agriculture.

H.E. Hana Al Suwaidi, Chairperson of the Environment and Protected Areas Authority in Sharjah (EPAA) inaugurated the event along with Mr. Nabil Gangi, the acting representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in the United Arab Emirates. .

Commenting on the event, Mr. Gangi highlighted the partnership inked with the ministry, noting that “with the straight linkage between climate change and agriculture, we foresee a year full of events and awareness raising activities.”

He added: “a few days away from COP22, we see a very strong future cooperation with the ministry, and we’re confident that UAE’s Intended  Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) will be well received by the international community.”

“Joint activities with the ministry weren’t limited to document distribution, but a workshop was held to more than 100 students, who drew and coloured the WFD2016 activity book, and left home with their first gardening set, enthusiast to become young farmers and save the environment, he added. 

The event was crowned by the broadcasting of the official message of FAO Director-General José Graziano Da Silva, who stressed on the need to change our approach to food and agriculture in order to address the challenges posed by climate change.”

Celebrated since the establishment of FAO in 1945, The World Food Day has always been an opportunity to showcase the strong commitment of FAO towards its national partners, through a series of celebrations covering more than 140 countries,