MME, UK agency hold joint workshop on food security

THE Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME), represented by the Department of Agricultural Research, in collaboration with the UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, organised a regional workshop on food security, on Monday.

The three-day workshop brought together experts, researchers and specialists from the two sides in the fields of agriculture and animal research, food security, biomedicine and environmental security.

In his speech at the opening of the workshop, Director of the Agricultural Research Department at the MME Hamad Saketal Shammari said the workshop provided an opportunity for researchers and experts to discuss and exchange information on how to achieve food security and control of brucellosis, as well as ways to combat bacteria resistant to antibiotics.

Shammari pointed out that the workshop comes within the framework of the Government’s keenness to achieve Qatar National Vision 2030, by maintaining the pace of economic and social development and protecting the environment for future generations.

Professor Anthony Fox of the UK Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) gave an overview of APHA and the role the agency’s reference laboratory plays in the control of brucellosis disease, and the protection of animal and plant wealth in his country.

For her part, Sarah al Malki from the MME’s Food Security Department discussed Qatar’s national strategy regarding the matter.