UAE and Italy unite for food sustainability
The Mediterranean diet also holds immense health benefits for the consumer
Food security is one of the top national priorities of the UAE, and Italy may have the right tools to assist the country in its march towards sustainability.
It was earlier revealed by Liborio Stellino, Ambassador of Italy to the UAE, that Italy is currently looking at opportunities to assist the UAE in overcoming difficulties involved in developing food strategies, following a meeting between respective ministers of agriculture and food in the UAE and Italy last year. Among these are the hydroponic system of irrigation.
To date, agriculture is Italy’s second most important sector and contributes to 11.3 per cent of its total GDP. Composed of thousands of small and medium-sized companies highly specialised in single stages of production, Italian companies are a beacon of high standard, as all the value chains are strongly monitored to give consumers the best possible quality that Italian agriculture can offer to the market.
According to Gianpaolo Bruno — Trade Commissioner to the UAE, Oman and Pakistan at the Italian Trade Agency, the popularity of Italian cuisine has long been celebrated in the UAE, and this is evident by the presence of hundreds of dedicated restaurants.
“The market has huge potential for our cuisine as well as gastronomic traditions that could be proposed to the health-concerned consumer. More and more healthy conscious customers are turning to Italian dishes, as the Mediterranean diet is focused on promoting a healthy balance in body and mind,” he said.
In order to assure consumers of the freshest and most genuine quality, the Italian Trade Agency is on a mission to debunk counterfeit products and spread awareness of what Italian food is really all about.
“Our philosophy goes beyond selling products. We aim to package it with an Italian style philosophy such that consumers are able to enjoy the Italian flair and way of life,” he said.