The Ishraq programme is launched by F&B Group to train young Emiratis
The sixth Future Food Forum 2024 concluded with a strong call for further collaboration between the public and private sectors to drive innovation and sustainability in the UAE’s food industry to achieve the strategic goals under Cluster Strategy, which aims to increase food sector contribution to the by US$10bn in 2030.
Organised the UAE F&B Business Group (F&B Group) under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Economy, focusing on the theme ‘Future Consumer, Future Government, and Future Food’ in strategic partnership with the Dubai Chamber and features FoodTech Valley as an organising partner, the Forum highlighted the importance of investing in local talent development to ensure innovation and sector leadership.
“The Ishraq programme launched by F&B Group to train young Emiratis offers a comprehensive exploration of the HR function in the UAE, with a particular focus on the private sector and its drive for Emiratization,” remarked Dr Eesa Al Bastaki, President, University of Dubai.
An insightful presentation by Andrey Dvoychenkov, General Manager of Arabian Peninsula and Pakistan at NielsenIQ, highlighted how the growing consumer focus on health and wellness is driving product development across industries and revealed key trends in the food sector.
“UAE consumers are increasingly prioritising health and convenience in their shopping habits. Notably, smaller brands are gaining momentum with double the sales growth of total FMCG, particularly through e-commerce,” he explained.
Key sessions at the event explored automation and sustainable practices across the food supply chain. Dr Darius Ngo from Yokogawa, in a presentation, emphasised the importance of composable manufacturing execution systems (MES) in achieving sustainable food production, enabling greater flexibility and scalability.
