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(upbeat music)
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On the journey toward net zero
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and perhaps even beyond it.
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By 2050, the world must feed nearly 9.7 billion people.
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That means 60% more food and 30% more freshwater.
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This demand points to one of the most dynamic growth areas
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where we can innovate and create societal impact.
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Food and water aren't just life essentials.
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They are the foundation of our future
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and a sector poised for transformation.
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Globally, agriculture accounts for 70%
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of all freshwater use,
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but by 2030, global demand for freshwater is set
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to exceed supply by 40%.
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At the same time, food demands continue to rise.
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Our latest research shows
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that the Middle East offers valuable lessons
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in this environment.
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14 countries in this region face extreme water
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stress and less than 5% of the land is farmable.
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Yet the population keeps growing.
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Instead of being barriers or shortcomings to the region,
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they have become launchpads for innovation.
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The region isn't surrendering to scarcity,
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it's building bold solutions,
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turning deserts into fertile lands
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and turning limitation into leadership.
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The Middle East now produces 40%
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of the world's desalinated water,
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driven increasingly by solar energy.
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In Egypt, an agribusiness called Al Dahra has transformed
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16,000 hectares of desert into productive farmland.
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Using smart irrigation and drought-resistant crops,
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they cut water usage by 20%
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and saved over $250 million
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in wheat imports since inception.
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These aren't isolated efforts. They're part
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of a purpose-driven transformation,
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and the momentum is growing.
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By 2030, the Middle East
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and Asia Pacific will drive nearly 45%
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of the global food-water tech market,
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worth over $200 billion.
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Real transformation requires more than great technology.
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It takes coordinated systems working as one.
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In our latest report with the World Economic Forum,
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we outline a five-point blueprint
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for green food innovation.
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One, build holistic policy frameworks
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with unified governance
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that set clear national goals,
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as seen with the UAE,
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unifying food, water, and environmental mandates
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under the UAE's Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.
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Two, forge robust financial ecosystems,
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blending sovereign wealth,
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grants, and private capital to scale innovation.
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Three, cultivating strategic clusters
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focusing on food and water.
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Co-locating stakeholders across the value chain can enable
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rapid R&D and accelerate deployment.
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Saudi Arabia's NEOM Agri-Food Tech Accelerator,
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which connects innovators with corporates
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and investors, is a great example of this.
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Four, leverage the private sector to scale technologies.
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The UAE'S Food Innovation Hub was launched
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to drive scalable solutions to arid climate food security,
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and circular supply chains.
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The hub brings the public, private,
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and academic institutions together to foster partnerships
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that empower the private sector at every stage,
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converting system barriers into scalable opportunities.
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Five, upskilling the value chain
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and bolster consumer acceptance.
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The transition to green food-water systems
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hinges not only on technological innovation,
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but also on aligning producers' incentives,
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capabilities across the value chain, and consumer trust.
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In the future,
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heading towards Beyond Net Zero, the Middle East is showing
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how resilience, sustainability,
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and growth can go hand in hand.
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It's building food security, water stewardship,
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and economic opportunities at the same time.
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These are not one-off projects.
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They are models for the world.
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If deserts can grow food,
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what's stopping the rest of us?
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(uplifting music)
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Investing in food means investing in water,
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and investing in both is investing in the future.