NEWS FEATURESThe delicatebut rewardingglobal foodbusinessshines atGulfood 2022Food & retail industryprojected to soar to $17 trillionin value by 2027 but foodwastage is also a majorconcern with 1.3 tons wastedannually worldwide costingUS$1 trillionBy Gemma Q. CasasAirCargoUpdate3232
NEWS FEATURESore foods are being transported from one point toManother across continents to satisfy the world’s growingdemand for different cuisines and tastes, especially inaffluent cities.From agriculture, to manufacturing, to processing, techcompanies, groceries, restaurants, supermarkets, etc.,so many industries and subsectors have their business anchored on food,including the air cargo industry, which transports on a daily basiscountless tons of perishables like fresh vegetables and fruits, meat andmeat products, seafood and related products, shellfish, fresh fish, spicesand dried herbs, flowers, processed foods, cheese and dairy products,among other things.The global food & grocery retail market had grown enormously that in2020, despite the pandemic, its value reached USD12 trillion with anannual forecast growth rate of 5% over 2021-2027, thereby accumulatingto USD17.29 trillion by 2027, according to MarketStudyReport.The intelligence research firm attributed the global food industry’sgrowth to the rise of the middle class, increase in retail sales, risingdemand for different food products, increasing e-commerce sales, andgrowing food processing verticals.Ironically, while the global food industry is growing, the number of peoplefacing hunger has also grown, largely fueled by the negative impacts ofthe pandemic.In her speech at the opening of Gulfood 2022 in Dubai, UAE Minister ofClimate Change and Environment Mariam Al Mheiri said almost 811million people are facing hunger, with one in three people on earthdenied access to adequate food due to conflicts, climate change and theongoing pandemic.She urged the world to explore innovative ways to stop global hunger andto address food insecurity and global food waste.Game-changer Gulfood 2022Gulfood, the world’s largest annual F&B sourcing in-person event washeld as scheduled for five days (13-17 February) at the Dubai World TradeCenter, bringing together more than 4,000 companies and industrythought leaders from 120 countries.It was a joyous moment for exhibitors who brought in the best of theirproducts to showcase for business opportunities and for everyone to seeand enjoy.But this year’s Gulfood, the 27th edition, made a difference with thelaunch of Gulfood Zero Waste, a global campaign in partnership withrestaurants and hotels driving the zero-waste initiative globally.The latest data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UnitedNations indicates that one-third of the world’s food is wasted, equating to1.3 tons annually at a cost of US$1 trillion. Beyond the detrimentalenvironmental impact, wastage also translates to the loss of nutrients andresources (water, land, labor, energy, and cost) invested in foodproduction.The Gulfood 2022 onsite Zero Waste Mega Impact resolved to collect1,000kg of food wastage to produce 400kg of compost, equating to aCO2e emissions saving of 1,000kg.Across the five days of Gulfood 2022, food wastes were collected fromexhibitors as well as the live-cooking stations and sent for compostproduction. The initiative also provides a platform for impact-driven,The latest data from the Foodand Agriculture Organization ofthe United Nations indicatesthat one-third of the world’sfood is wasted, equating to 1.3tons annually at a cost of US$1trillion. Beyond the detrimentalenvironmental impact, wastagealso translates to the loss ofnutrients and resources (water,land, labor, energy, and cost)invested in food production.homegrown companies, including a partnership withThe Waste Lab, which is implementing solutions torepurpose food, such as compost, with societal andeconomic benefits.Gulfood also took the lead to address this issue bylaunching a first-of-its-kind citywide activation that willsee chefs from 30 UAE restaurants, cafes and darkkitchens making the best of ‘ugly’ produce andeliminating waste.Trixie LohMirmand, executive vice president, exhibitions& events, DWTC, said: “E-commerce in F&B isexperiencing a meteoric rise thanks to a number of keyfactors. In this region specifically, it is flourishing thanksto increased high-income potential, high internetpenetration, developed logistics network, moderndigital payment systems, a growing tech-savvy youthpopulation, and strong government support. As the F&Bindustry’s undisputed transformative powerbroker,Gulfood will connect and create the future course of thedigital marketplace, with crucial insights from producersand aggregators.“It will be a coming together of an industry in need ofaddressing ecosystem challenges and opportunities,which if surmounted can be a huge engine of growthand transformation. What consumers are looking forfrom the food and beverage industry is very differentfrom just a few years ago, and these new expectationsare here to stay beyond 2022. Gulfood will focus theindustry-wide debate on the trends and new valuechainnetworks that will shape the future,” LohMirmandadded.Major global challenges, trends and change drivers werealso examined, including e-commerce, technology,sustainability and disruptive cellular agriculture bio-33AirCargoUpdate
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