To support Abu Dhabi's food security goals, the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) has laid out plans to improve the quality and safety of local produce. In his capacity as Chairman of ADAFSA, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, outlined protocols aimed at improving farm efficiency, increasing community confidence, and increasing food self-sufficiency.
In order to contribute to sustainable agriculture and maximize farm output, he issued a directive on biosecurity requirements for farms and livestock holdings in the capital. According to the state news agency Wam, the strategy will focus on pest control and disease elimination from produce.
Sheikh Mansour stated that the move would help to protect humans, animals, and plants from disease outbreaks and epidemics. He emphasized the importance of good practices and precautionary measures in order to improve biosecurity in the agriculture sector.
The policy, according to ADAFSA Director-General Saeed Al Ameri, was put in place to help prevent pest and disease outbreaks.
"The new decision falls within Abu Dhabi's legislative framework that governs the agricultural sector." "The goal is to develop a sustainable agricultural sector, promote the emirate's biosecurity system, and protect farms and livestock holdings (izba) from pest and disease outbreaks," he explained.
According to Al Ameri, the authority will identify best global practices to protect the community from the threat of zoonotic diseases, which are spread from animals to humans. He stated that farm owners would play a critical role in implementing biosecurity requirements.
Sheikh Mansour has also launched mobile services for animal and plant health in remote areas of the country, which is the latest initiative aimed at accelerating agricultural growth and assisting farmers. The initiative will support the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment's strategy of protecting livestock and providing prompt service to farmers in remote areas.
The mobile vans are equipped with animal medicines, first aid, and vaccines, and will contribute to the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment's strategy of protecting livestock and providing prompt service to farmers in remote areas.
The Abu Dhabi government announced a plan at the beginning of the month to develop plant varieties and animal breeds that are better suited to the UAE's environmental conditions, through the Abu Dhabi Agricultural Genome Programme. It will involve scientific research centers working to develop new varieties and breeds.
A genetic resource database and a physical material store will be established. This approach has frequently resulted in the establishment of seed banks elsewhere, according to The National. The initiative is part of ADAFSA's strategic plan to improve food security from 2022 to 2025.
