The 7th Future Food Forum 2025 opened in Dubai, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, and academics to explore pathways for advancing food security, trade, and innovation across the Global South. The discussions focused on building resilient food ecosystems through technology, sustainable practices, and cross-border partnerships.
One of the key themes was how Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) are opening new opportunities in food manufacturing, logistics, and exports, while also enabling small and medium enterprises to integrate into global supply chains. The UAE set out targets to grow its food sector contribution from $8.1 billion to $10.9 billion, but the forum’s emphasis extended well beyond national ambitions. Panels highlighted global best practices in consumer trends, sustainable proteins, and agri-tech, underscoring the importance of collaboration across regions.
Speaking to Prasar Bharati, Prof. (Dr.) Gourav Vallabh, Public Policy Contributor and Member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM), noted that UAE-India non-oil trade has the potential to serve as a benchmark for the Global South. He underlined that both countries can demonstrate how collaborative partnerships in food, agriculture, technology, and tourism can drive growth. Vallabh pointed to India’s diversified agricultural output and vast farmer base, combined with the UAE’s strategic hub status, as central to achieving the $100 billion non-oil trade target.
He added that while minor trade frictions remain, the convergence of the UAE’s advances in AI and quantum technology with India’s talent pool, supported by the UAE’s $2 billion investment commitment in Indian infrastructure, positions both nations as leaders of South-South cooperation under the CEPA framework. The 7th Future Food Forum 2025 is held under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism, with Minister Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri inaugurating the annual gathering.
Minister bin Touq stressed that innovation and sustainability will drive this transformation, noting that the forum coincides with the rollout of the National Policy for Economic Clusters, a framework designed to strengthen interconnected industries and add over $8.1 billion to the national economy. The three-day forum also showcased the role of digital transformation in food manufacturing and the integration of advanced technologies to strengthen food supply chains globally. The event concludes on September 25.
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