EDITOR’SLetter

Our interviewees also include Sami Al Saif, President of Shell Fisheries, who shares insight into how his company employs 500 people in Bahrain as well as how Bahrain is exporting some of its products.

Welcome to the very first edition of Bahrain Food Monitor magazine, focused on sustainability, water, aquaculture, hydroponics, agriculture, aquaponics, fishing, food logistics and food monitoring in Bahrain and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman.

Are you aware that food security is a growing global threat? Hunger has now spread across the world like never before. From major cities to the deepest rural regions, there are many so-called "hunger hot spots," where millions of people suffer due to malnutrition and famine.

This is why this magazine has been created—to offer a fresh, engaging, and much-needed discussion on how to tackle the problems that impact food security and nourishment across the GCC.

In this first issue, we look at how to address potential food insecurity and how the private sector and governments are addressing the issue from the grassroots level to the corporate and civil levels.

Through engaging and thought-provoking conversations, we provide expert insights from Executive Director, SDG2 Advocacy Hub, Paul Newnham, a world hunger expert.

We chat to Roots and Shoots farmer, Andrea Pucciarelli, about starting a farm in Bahrain.

Our look at food security is supplemented by interviews with Myna CEO, Joao Lopes, who opens up about the scarce resource of water in the GCC and future predictions.

We chat to Hans Mol of FytoFoam about how this foam is saving water and could change the farming landscape in Bahrain.

In addition to interviews, our first edition also looks at simple food security measures to be taken at home to help promote self-sufficiency and zero waste.

This edition also gives an overview of major events and updates across the GCC to keep you abreast with the latest developments in the field.

We invite you to explore our new publication and embark on a journey to better understand the key concepts in food security and sustainability. At the heart of our magazine lies a core focus—to challenge ourselves and others in making the GCC region a world leader in terms of food security.

Don't forget to check out our website www.bahrainfoodmonitor.org for more information on food security and food related events in the GCC.

We thank you for your time and interest in the Bahrain Food Security magazine and we hope you continue to support our mission.

Yours sincerely,

Farrah Saville

News and Updates

12 Mark your calendars - top shows to attend

14 The Gulf at a glance – your look at food trends across the GCC

16 Report: Bahrain International Garden Show

17 Gulf Food Report - what does the future of food look like?

18 Exorbitant food prices cause strife across the globe

20 UN Food Security Report

21 Food inflation rate Bahrain updates

22 Hunger Hotspots

24 Fitch predictions 2025 Bahrain

Agriculture and Poultry

26 How I started a farm in Bahrain - Andrea Pucciarelli’s success story in our own backyard

29 Agrint technology could save date farmers in Bahrain

30 Acquaresins – the future for the GCC

32 Plant based future: Are beans, chickpeas and legumes the next best thing?