The programme seeks to tackle the issues facing a planet which by 2050 is estimated to have a population of 9.7 billion people, resulting in a 60 per cent increase in demand for food.
The Expo 2020 Dubai will run for six months from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022 – bringing 190-plus countries together in a spirit of ‘hope, optimism and shared purpose’.
Laura Faulkner OBE, UK commissioner for Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “With the world’s population set to increase further in the coming decades, smarter and sustainable solutions will be key to relieving the pressure facing the global food supply chain.
“Innovation coming out of the UK in the agri-tech and food security spaces will play a central role in delivering a sustainable future, so I’m excited to see and hear the ideas, innovations and solutions covered during the programme.”
A number of the UK’s leading experts will join the series of talks, panel discussions and events during the programme.
Food security speakers:
- Professor Chris Elliott OBE, professor of Food Safety and founder of the Institute for Global Food Security at Queen’s University, Belfast.
- Professor David Lloyd, director of ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre at Cardiff Metropolitan University.
Other panellists include:
- Dan Watson, co-founder and chief executive of SafetyNet Technologies Ltd.
- Dr Tarifa Al Zaabi, acting director general of the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture.
- Professor Michel Kaiser, chief scientist at Heriot-Watt University.
- Ignacio Ramirez, global head of operations, managing director MENA at Winnow Solutions.
Appearing throughout the series of events will also be:
- David Farquhar, chief executive of IGS Ltd.
- John McElhone co-founder and chief executive of CropSafe.
- Morten Toft Bech, founder of Meatless Farm.
- Jamie Crummie, co-founder of Too Good To Go.
The UK Pavilion will also host the 1851 restaurant, showcasing the best of British food and drink throughout the event.
For more information and to take a virtual tour of the UK Pavilion visit here.