Dubai Exports, the export promotion agency of Department of Economic Development (DED) recently launched the ‘Open Food Platform’ at Gulfood 2018 in partnership with the Food and Beverage Manufacturing Business Group (FBMG).

The first-of-its-kind smart platform, launched in the presence of Mariam Almheiri, the UAE Minister of State for Future Food Security, is set to integrate food value chain players in the public and private sectors to deliver value to all stakeholders, including the end-consumer.

The Open Food Platform has already brought 650 companies and investors in the foods sector - in addition to at least 4,000 traders directly or indirectly associated with the industry - together with government entities and regulators to share data and transact business across a smart application and website, said the statement from Dubai Exports.

Resulting from more than 18 months of research, studies and development, the Open Food Platform seeks to make Dubai, which currently imports 99 per cent of its food, the food hub of the region and the world.

This will be achieved by using smart technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and Blockchain, to optimise and increase efficiencies throughout the food supply chain, preventing the loss of food, value, and energy.

CEO Saeed Al Awadi said: "We are pleased to be partners with the FBMG in launching the Open Food Platform. It’s a qualitative leap that will enhance competitiveness in the food sector, and boost exports by providing an overview of the global trends as well as the diversity of markets and demand."

"The platform marks a new culture of intra-sector co-operation and information exchange, which will also serve as a model for other industries in the UAE in working with government entities and regulators," stated Al Awadi.

According to him, Dubai Exports will serve as a link between exporters and the food trade.

"The new platform provides an innovative template to build partnerships and launch initiatives that will improve efficiencies and deliver added value by consolidating public and private sector efforts. It’s a good example of harnessing latest technology to meet future demand," explained Al Awadi.

Abdul Rahman Al Hosani, the director of exporter services at Dubai Exports said: "The new platform will help the food trade grow rapidly in the near to longer term. By bringing all stakeholders together it will address obstacles faced by the trade, not only in Dubai or the UAE but also regionally and internationally."

"We invite all F&B regulators to come together on the Open Food Platform and enrich it as a source of accurate information as well as strategic pointer to the supply and demand picture and diverse export opportunities," noted Al Hosani.

FBMG's chairman Saleh Abdullah Lootah said: "We are committed to driving development and improvement in our industry, as an ally for the government and with the best interests of our country and community in mind."

"This platform combines insight and innovation to align with the vision of the leadership to drive growth by implementing the latest technologies, and to ensure both sustainability and security for Dubai’s food value chain," he added.-TradeArabia News Service