Goal 2
SDG 2: Zero Hunger
SDG 2: Zero Hunger in Bahrain and Government Initiatives on Food Security
Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2) seeks to end hunger, achieve food security, and promote sustainable agriculture. In Bahrain, ensuring food security has become a priority, especially in the face of growing demand, limited natural resources, and reliance on food imports. The Bahraini government is proactively addressing food security by investing in sustainable agriculture, supporting local food production, and forming strategic partnerships to improve resilience in the food supply chain.
To meet SDG 2, Bahrain’s government has implemented several initiatives, including:
National Food Security Strategy: Bahrain has launched a National Food Security Strategy to enhance local production and reduce dependency on imported food. This strategy focuses on developing sustainable agricultural practices, improving water management, and adopting technologies like hydroponics, aquaponics, and vertical farming that enable food production in limited spaces.
Bahrain Agricultural Development: The Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs, and Urban Planning supports agricultural development projects that encourage local farmers to grow food using sustainable methods. The ministry also collaborates with research institutions to develop crops that are adaptable to Bahrain’s climate. Financial assistance and technical training are provided to farmers to encourage innovation in farming and increase domestic food production.
Strategic Food Reserves and Partnerships: Bahrain has established strategic food reserves to ensure a steady supply of essential foods, especially during global supply chain disruptions. The government also collaborates with international partners to secure imports of critical food items while working toward boosting local production capabilities.
Supporting Small-Scale Farmers: The government has programs that support small-scale farmers with grants, subsidies, and access to markets. By strengthening the agricultural sector, Bahrain aims to reduce poverty among farmers and increase access to affordable food for its population.
Through these efforts, Bahrain is working toward food security and sustainable agriculture, ensuring that its people have continuous access to nutritious food, in line with SDG 2.
SDG 2 at Ahlia University: Awareness and Sustainable Initiatives
Ahlia University in Bahrain also contributes to SDG 2 by promoting awareness of food security and sustainable food practices within its academic community. While the university does not directly contribute to food production, it plays a significant role in fostering a culture of sustainability and responsibility toward food security among its students and faculty.
Research and Education on Food Security: Ahlia University integrates topics related to food security, sustainability, and environmental sciences into its curriculum, especially in courses related to environmental studies, economics, and health sciences. By educating students about global challenges such as hunger and food scarcity, the university fosters awareness and encourages students to think critically about solutions to these pressing issues.
Workshops and Awareness Campaigns: The university regularly holds workshops, seminars, and awareness campaigns focused on sustainable food practices, food waste reduction, and the importance of food security. These events feature guest speakers from government agencies and NGOs who discuss Bahrain’s food security challenges and initiatives, inspiring students to consider careers in sustainability and public policy.
Campus Sustainability Initiatives: Ahlia University promotes sustainable practices on campus, such as reducing food waste in cafeterias, encouraging reusable containers, and offering nutritious food options. The university’s student clubs often organize sustainability drives that raise awareness about responsible food consumption and waste reduction, further promoting SDG 2.
Through education and community engagement, Ahlia University contributes to the broader objectives of SDG 2 by instilling values of sustainability, responsible consumption, and awareness about global food security challenges among its students. This aligns with Bahrain’s national commitment to achieving Zero Hunger and creating a food-secure future.
Food Security
Given the agricultural challenges faced by the Middle East region, food security is a pressing matter. It is central to sustainable development and growth, and the focus of a national strategy to boost local production and reduce dependence on food imports.
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture are working in tandem to support the agriculture and fisheries sectors, which are key to developing the nation’s long-term food security. In addition, the government is cooperating with other regional governments to achieve common goals in this area.
As a result of the government’s foresight, Bahrain is among the top 50 most food secure nations in the world.
Among the World’s Top 50 Most Food Secure Nations
Bahrain is listed among the top 50 most food secure nations, ranking 49th in the Global Food Security Index 2020. The report, conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit, ranks 113 countries in food affordability, availability, quality and safety, and natural resources and resilience. Bahrain ranked 35th globally in affordability, 64th in availability, 44th in quality of food and 111th in natural resources and resilience.
99 percent of people in Bahrain have access to drinking water and know how to store food safely. No one in the country is living on or below the global poverty line, which is USD 3.20 per day. Bahrain scored 75.3 out of 100 for food supplies, while the world average was 60.4, and its irrigation infrastructure scored 46.5, well above the global average of 10.6.
Green solutions for leftovers
https://www.ahlia.edu.bh/events/green-solutions-for-leftovers/
College of Business and finance are cordially invites you to attend ’Green solutions for leftovers’ By Ms. Manal Bucheery. on Wednesday, May 3 ,’ 2023 at 12:00 PM’ in Ahlia University ’ Theatre.
Session Objectives:
- Introducing the negative effects of wasting food.
- The importance of waste recycling and its impact on the environmental, economic and social aspects.
- Provide green solutions for leftovers.
Al-Ahlia Students Organize the First Edition of the Food Festival
In a joyful atmosphere, Ahlia University students held the first edition of the Ahlia Food Festival in the university's parking lots with the participation of dozens of restaurants and food and beverage shops, as well as local student projects in the food and beverage industry, where the dishes varied between eastern and western in addition to healthy and organic foods.
On this occasion, the President of the Student Council of Ahlia University, Abdullah Al-Shaer, said, "This hosting for a group of restaurants and food stores, as well as the products and creations of Ahlia University students, is held with the aim of enhancing social life in our university, and emphasizing the culture of diversity drawn by different foods and colors." Al-Shaer praised the support and assistance that the festival received from the university administration and professors.
Media and Public Relations student Nujoud Sami was one of the students participating in the festival, and she expressed her happiness with the great turnout for the festival's activities, and she participated in preparing a range of foods and sweets and displaying them at the festival, where she received praise and praise from the audience.
It is worth mentioning that the Ahlia University Student Council plays a vital role in the various activities and events of the Deanship of Student Affairs, in organizing many extracurricular student activities such as lectures, seminars, sports, cultural and artistic competitions, and arranging scientific and exploratory trips inside and outside Bahrain, with the aim of refining students' skills and preparing them to enter the labor market.
Bahrain is the first in the Arab world and the fourth in the world in food waste
https://www.albiladpress.com/news/2021/4757/bahrain/730292.html
Dr. Sumaya Yousef, Head of the Department of Natural
Resources and Environment at the Arabian Gulf University, stressed that the
Kingdom of Bahrain occupies the first place in the Arab world and the fourth
globally in food waste according to the latest reports; and explained that this
requires more effort from all sides to increase the level of awareness of the
Bahraini society to reduce food waste. This came during her talk about the
waste generated by food and the amount of its production annually globally in
the lecture organized by the Bahrain Society of Chemists under the title
(Sustainable Management of Solid Waste) via the Zoom platform.
Dr. Sumaya Yousef pointed out that the waste management sector comes in
fourth place after the energy, agriculture and industry sector as the most
sectors that contribute to carbon dioxide emissions, explaining that there is
an economic, environmental and social cost of unsustainable waste management
practices, where waste is landfill without exploiting its components, which can
be considered the basis for many industries that contribute to the
diversification of the economy, environmental protection, job creation and
contribute significantly to the elimination of unemployment in society Thus
contributing to the transformation of society into production rather than
consumption.
She reviewed the most prominent sustainable techniques for
solid waste management, pointing out the existence of techniques to convert
waste into energy through anaerobic fermentation, and advanced incineration
without emissions, and that they are considered one of the socially,
economically and environmentally feasible techniques for the Kingdom of
Bahrain, and should be invested in, and noted that the effectiveness of
fertilization projects to convert organic waste into fertilizer to be used
locally in agriculture, and may also be exported.
She stressed the need to activate the national strategy for waste
management and centralize the management of the sector under one umbrella, with
an integrated and coherent regulatory legislative framework that contributes to
achieving tangible development. She gave an example of this with a policy of
separation of waste from the source which would increase the efficiency and
effectiveness of the operation of many technologies in this area. She stressed
the importance of community awareness of sustainable consumption patterns.
During the lecture, she touched on the definition of solid waste and its
types, the motives for increasing its production rate, the concept of
sustainable waste management and its importance globally and locally, and the
methodology of integrated solid waste management. She also talked about the
Sustainable Development Goals and the extent to which sustainable waste
management is linked to those goals, and highlighted the available sustainable
options and technologies for each type, and the feasibility of some sustainable
technologies for the Kingdom of Bahrain. In her lecture, she addressed other
topics related to the circular economy and its relationship to sustainable
waste management, and the waste management market globally.
It is worth mentioning that the lecture comes within the monthly
periodic lectures organized by the Bahrain Society of Chemists, and has enjoyed
remarkable local and international participation from different countries
including: the Kingdom of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Iraq, and
Russia.
Consumption challenge: Bahrain steps up food security efforts as it drops in global ranking
Bahrain is ramping up efforts to improve food security in the country after it dropped from 41st to 50th in the Global Food Security Index (GFSI) published by The Economist Intelligence Unit.
The Bahrain government involving the Industry, Commerce and Tourism and Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning departments has now announced a national strategy for food security to increase the volume of local production.
Due to its limited ability to cultivate crops, Bahrain relies heavily on food imports to meet local food demand, importing about 94% of its food.
The national strategy will include allocating multiple sites for fish farming, supporting sustainable fish farming, intensify financing for agriculture and livestock, enhance investment in agricultural projects in Bahrain and abroad, attracting foreign investment, all in hopes to keep up with demands of local food consumption.
The national project will also aim to expand, prolong and monitor local food stocks over time.
In addition, the Bahrain government already announced in 2018 a plan to build a research centre to study soil degradation, water use and food security.
High food security ranking for Bahrain
https://www.zawya.com/en/world/middle-east/high-food-security-ranking-for-bahrain-vhsk28yk
In the region, the UAE takes the lead as it is ranked 26th with a score of 7.07 out of 10
Bahrain is ranked second among Gulf countries in a new index that provides a comprehensive overview of the food security sector.
The Global Food Security 2022 second quarter report is based on data collected from 171 countries until July 1 this year.
It was released by London-based market intelligence firm Deep Knowledge Analytics yesterday.
Nations are ranked on three parameters: Access to Food, Crisis Level, and Food System and Economy Resilience.
In the region, the UAE takes the lead as it is ranked 26th with a score of 7.07 out of 10, where the value closer to 0 shows a more insecure state in terms of food security.
Bahrain and Qatar are ranked 30th and joint second among the GCC with a score of 6.99, followed by Oman (6.77), Saudi Arabia (6.75) and Kuwait (6.69).
The top five nations are the US (7.90), Norway (7.89), Ireland (7.82) and the Netherlands and Canada (7.79).
’Ranking 30th out of 171 countries, Bahrain showcases considerable commitment to ensuring food security and food sufficiency,’ Deep Knowledge Analytics director Alex Cresniov told the GDN yesterday.
’While the nation has not been affected to a large degree by the ongoing war in Ukraine due to generous subsidies from the government, its food security might be threatened by climate change and further disruption of supply chains.
’Therefore, government incentives for research in high-tech and alternative agriculture should continue to boost local production of staple foods in the kingdom.’
The GDN reported earlier this year that new initiatives to achieve food security in Bahrain include aqua-farming, animal and agriculture projects as well as increasing the production of poultry.
In total, BD400 million worth of projects are underway to establish hydroponic farms and 356 greenhouses ’ covering 260,000sqm of land ’ which will produce 3,600 tonnes of food annually.
Bahrain is ranked second in the Food System and Economy Resilience category with a score of 5.83 out of maximum of 7.7, with UAE (5.94) taking the lead. Oman is ranked third with a score of 5.33, Qatar (5.07), Saudi Arabia (4.61) and Kuwait (4.44).
Under the Access to Food category, Qatar takes the lead with a score of 8, followed by Saudi Arabia (7.96), the UAE (7.92), Kuwait (7.82), Bahrain (7.63) and Oman (7.55).
In the Crisis Level category, Bahrain is ranked fourth among Gulf countries with a score of 2.49 out of 6, with Qatar in first spot (2.09), followed by Kuwait (2.18), Saudi Arabia (2.32), Oman (2.57) and the UAE (2.65).
’The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) will remain as one of the most import-dependent regions in the world,’ says the report.
’About 50 per cent of the region’s food is imported, and some progress in the field of agri-food technology is being made in a number of countries,’ it adds.
Oman and the UAE are also listed among the list of MENA countries that face most ecological threats.
The report warns that the levels of hunger and food insecurity are expected to increase further by end of 2022, with 25 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and MENA region considered ’high risk’ and deteriorating.
’The MENA region, for instance, is extremely dependent on imports of food, especially wheat and other staple grains, so food is calorie-rich but nutritionally deficient,’ it says.
’As a result, people suffer from the double burden of malnutrition: stunting and obesity.’
Struggle
Other alarming findings state that wheat prices are set to increase by 40pc this year as 36 countries import more than 50pc of their wheat from Russia and Ukraine.
The report highlights that most food insecure countries are located in Africa, a major importer of food, with millions are now in danger of being pushed into further malnutrition.
The top five food-stressed countries are Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Mozambique, Congo Democratic Republic and Somalia.
The farmers’ struggle with rising prices of fertilisers, strain on supply chains due to Covid-19, conflicts, countries enacting food-export restrictions and climate change are among the key factors that shock the food system globally, causing pressure on households’ income around the globe.
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