food security - Sustainability Academy

The UAE imports 80 per cent of its food, which is a major challenge for the country’s food security.

Vertical farming, a practice of growing local fruits and vegetables with minimal resources, is currently making waves helping the country build a sustainable future. To address the situation, steps are being taken to restructure the food supply chain.

“Vertical farming is the future of sustainable agriculture in the UAE. We import a huge amount of goods, and need to find ways of being not only more sustainable but more self-sustaining as well, meeting local demand through local production,” said Mustafa Moiz, managing director of Uns Farms.

Agrotech Company VeggiTech, on the other hand, focuses on addressing the key challenges of traditional farming – soil, temperature and water – through its design of “protected hydroponics” and “grow-light-assisted hydroponics”.

Radical measures like harvesting water with alternative energy sources have also yielded positive results. Circular agriculture is a new priority in The Netherlands which is willing to assist the UAE in implementing this concept.

Aside from promoting sustainability, the UAE’s food security strategy also aims to ensure access to safe and nutritious food. This is why organic farming – a method that doesn’t rely on synthetic fertilizers – has also been gaining traction.

The availability of local crops has also encouraged more residents to adopt healthier lifestyles. It may be surprising to hear, but one crop that is showing a lot of promise in the UAE is quinoa, according to scientists. The number of farmers cultivating quinoa in the UAE has been steadily increasing since 2016.

Different organizations based in the UAE, are supporting the great initiative for the sustainable food production in the region with innovative technologies like growing crops that need less water or can thrive with the brackish water or producing nutritious food (like quinoa and millet) from marginal lands with poor quality water.

The UAE has appointed a Minister of State for Food Security to strategically address food security and nutrition challenges. The country ranks fourth in food affordability, but 50th in availability; hence a large amount of the food security is based on the import of food products.

Sustainability practitioners bring strong skills and out-of-the-box way of thinking to deal with the challenges ahead. CSE is holding its next Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner Program in Dubai, November 17-18, 2019.

The Canadian Carbon Tax has more than economic ramifications. It is part of interdependent issues affecting Toronto.

Canada has passed its revenue neutral carbon tax. It may be high enough to meet climate targets, but will it cover social cost? Toronto will benefit from Canada’s move because it is already experiencing climate-related, surprising heat waves and both droughts and flooding. The legislation addresses risks to critical infrastructures and food security. Between 2019 and 2022, gas prices will increase less than 10%, but the cost of coal will double, increasing demand for cheaper carbon-free electricity.

Fortunately, artificial intelligence will assist sustainability efforts by predicting weather patterns which affects energy load and farming, to name just two. Entrepreneurs are bringing new AI technology to market as reported in CSE’s Sustainability (ESG) Reporting Trends: North America 2018.

As weather becomes less predictable, local sourcing is growing, but “sustainable” farming practices are being taken over by Agribusiness and may actually contribute to climate change. To get non-GMO yields equivalent to 1 acre of “regular” farming, research cautions may require more cleared land, even slash and burned. Wise use of Canada’s existing farmlands, too often subsumed into suburbia, might help. Another option is halophytes which grow on denuded lands, thrive on salt water and have long root systems which sequester carbon.

Climate change will alter transportation dynamics, directly addressed by the carbon tax. As a tech hub, Toronto will see industry experimenting with significantly low-fuel and even no-fuel options. Already social entrepreneurs are using congestion to their benefit to promote the use of electric scooters in dense urban settings.

No matter which side of the carbon tax one falls on – for or against – there is no doubt to the multiple ramifications to sustainability practitioners! The legal team, Financial department, ERM (risk management), Procurement, communications, R&D, and investor relations are cross-organizational departments needing a sustainability expert, answering questions, leading programs and informing policy throughout the corporate structure.

The Centre for Sustainability and Excellence Certified Sustainability Practitioner Program (Advanced Edition 2019) offers trainings topics key to Toronto. CSE does not pick focus topics arbitrarily. We listen to participants from past trainings and to participants enrolled for future trainings, such as extra SROI information presented at the 2018 Toronto training. Want to inform the focus for Toronto? Register now and let us know your thoughts. CSE’s first Toronto training is April 11-12, 2019.

Food security and hunger is the “dumbest problem” in the world, according to Komal Ahmad, founder of Copia PBC which has recovered over $4.6 million worth of food. Hunger is also a problem that sustainability practitioners can help solve. Whether land management, agriculture, food production, water protection, or distribution, crossing disciplines and industries requires systems thinking – integral to the training received by certified sustainability practitioners.

Toronto is meeting this challenge head on with Food Projects, the Toronto Food Strategy Team and the Toronto Food Policy Council. Solutions range from sustainable agriculture/aquaculture to public/private partnerships.

Healthy food should not be a perk of the rich or those conveniently living in Vancouver or Toronto. As a top food exporter, Canada should be able to feed its own population. The country can tackle Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Good Health and Wellbeing (SDG3) and Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG11) within its own borders. There is wide disparity between northern Canada food costs and the rest of Canada.

In some regions, “ethical” food – those that are affordable or ecologically sustainable – are often out of reach for lower income individuals. PepsiCo (which has relied on the Sustainability Academy) is trying to change the perception of ethical food as only available from small farmers with its mission to “Leave No Trace” throughout its entire business and supply chain.

A systems approach requires input from many stakeholders. Canada is finding the same food security issues faced worldwide: foreign influence on farming, urban food deserts, injustice to temporary farm workers, climate change, environment protection and diet-related diseases, to name a few.

Toronto’s chefs are taking on the challenge. Canoe Restaurant, Drake One Fifty, Ruby Watchco, and AGO Bistro are acclaimed sustainability leaders. There is a website specific to finding Sustainable Food jobs (FoodWork.ca), and Canada ranks #3 globally for Food Sustainability.

Sustainability practitioners constantly question who are the key stakeholders? What are the Materiality considerations? No industry is left out. Even mining, affecting water resources, influences food security. Are you ready to address these concerns?

CSE’s Certified Sustainability Practitioner Program (New Advanced Edition 2019) offers training on these key topics and many others. The first 2019 program in Toronto runs April 11-12.

Food security goes beyond farming or international trade. Sustainability Practitioners bring a systems approach to the table to fight the “dumbest problem” in the world.

“Hunger is the world’s dumbest problem,” says Komal Ahmad. Toyota’s 2016 “Mother of Invention” founded Copia which has recovered over $4.6 million in food savings. Hunger is also a problem sustainability practitioners can help solve. Whether land management, agriculture, food production, water protection, or distribution, across disciplines and industries requires a systems thinking approach – integral to the training received by certified sustainability practitioners.

In the US, government policy focuses on food security. In Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau established a broad-reaching mandate considering the economy, environment, sustainability and global leadership. Solutions range from sustainable agriculture/aquaculture to public/private partnerships to local solutions. Healthy food should not be a perk of the rich or those conveniently living in Vancouver or Toronto. Canada and the United States are top food exporters who can feed their own populations. They have the luxury of tackling food issues head on.

Despite lower food prices common to net exporters, there is wide disparity with Canada’s northern most regions paying $13 for a bag of flour while the rest of Canada pays $5. In other regions, “ethical” food is often out of reach for lower income individuals who cannot afford or don’t have access to ecologically sustainable foods.

Canada’s mandate from Trudeau is to develop a food policy that “promotes healthy living and safe food by putting more healthy, high-quality food, produced by Canadian ranchers and farmers, on the tables of families across the country.” Ethical food is often considered the purview of the small farmer. PepsiCo (which has relied on the Sustainability Academy) is trying to change that perception with its mission to “Leave No Trace” throughout its entire business and supply chain.

Food policy must be interconnected and rooted in health, equity and sustainability, informed by sound research. While Trudeau’s mandate is directed at the Minister of Agriculture, Canada is also integrating the mission into the science-oriented department of Fisheries and Ocean, emphasizing a strong certification and inspection program.

A systems approach requires input from many stakeholders. The Canadian government has launched an online survey and “A Food Policy for Canada” consultations throughout the country. They are uncovering the same food security issues faced worldwide: foreign influence on farming, urban food deserts, racial inequality, injustice to temporary farm workers, poverty, climate change, environment protection and diet-related diseases, medications and antibiotics from https://www.cdhfinechemical.com/cdh_data/antibiotics-online/ to name a few.

As sustainability practitioners, a systems approach comes naturally. But what are the key components? Stakeholders? Materiality considerations from industry to industry? Even mining, affecting water resources, influences food security. Sustainability practitioners, with their integrated understanding, are uniquely suited to address these concerns.

CSE covers these topics in its Certified Sustainability Practitioner Program (Advanced Edition 2017). The two remaining North America dates are Toronto, Sept. 26-27, and San Diego, Oct. 31-Nov. 1, 2017.