QNRF, MME launch first cycle of joint food security call

Joint call aims to improve food security framework in Qatar SHURA SPEAKER MEETS IRANIAN AMBASSADOR

QATAR National Research Fund (QNRF), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), in partnership with the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME), has launched the first cycle of its joint Food Security Call. The initiative aims to foster the development of productive and sustainable food systems that increase food security and improve nutrition in Qatar.

The main objective of this call is to enhance food security measures in Qatar through investing in applied research for the primary theme of ‘Local Food Production’, along with ‘Community Initiative Policy and Legislation’, ‘Strengthening Resilience among People’, and ‘Agrifood Systems Supply Chain’.

Sheikh Dr. Faleh bin Nasser al Thani, Assistant Undersecretary of Agriculture and Fisheries Affairs, said: “In line with its mandate, the Ministry of Municipality and Environment is working towards achieving a set of goals, mainly food security, and environmental balance and protection, through comprehensive and sustainable development for the benefit of future generations. Agricultural research plays an important role in terms of applying modern and appropriate technologies to attain scientific solutions to bridge the gap in agricultural production in order to achieve self-sufficiency and food security.

“Through our partnership with the Qatar National Research Fund, we seek to develop a joint cooperation mechanism that enables both parties to make good use of their services and expertise to advance agricultural and fisheries-related research in Qatar. We also emphasise the important role that academic and research institutions play in developing joint projects in the agriculture and fisheries fields, in addition to enhancing the contribution of these industries to Qatar’s food security in a safe and sustainable manner.”

The joint call encourages the development of a comprehensive, sustainable, and longterm national food system, and aims to use research that benefits the well-being of citizens of Qatar as a catalyst to help the country realise its goal of developing a sustainable, diversified economy.

Dr. Abdul Sattar al Taie, Executive Director, QNRF, said: “Given the environmental, climatic, agricultural, and the regional political climate, food security has emerged as a major research priority for Qatar. Therefore, our partnership with MME to find innovative and sustainable solutions to improve Qatar’s food production is timely. I highly encourage or rather call upon researchers to apply for this call and contribute to the strengthening of food security in Qatar.”

The submission deadline for the call is October 2, 2019. For more details about the Food Security Call, please visit: http:// www.qnrf.org/en-us/Funding/ Research-Programs/Thematicand-Grand-Challenges-Research-Program/QNRF-MMEJoint-Funding.

Speaker of the Shura Council HE Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud met with Ambassador of Iran to Qatar HE Mohamad Ali Subhani in Doha on Wednesday. During the meeting, they discussed parliamentary relations between the two countries and the ways of boosting them. Issues of mutual interest were also discussed. The meeting was attended by a number of officials from the Shura Council.