Latest news with #FourthAnnualFoodSafetyandNutritionSummit
Kuwait Times
13-05-2025
- Business
- Kuwait Times
US Ambassador welcomes Trump's Gulf visit, highlights strong US-Kuwait food security ties
Kuwait affirms food security, safety as key to sustainable development KUWAIT: US Ambassador to Kuwait Karen Sasahara on Tuesday welcomed the visit of former US President Donald Trump to the Gulf region, describing it as a continuation of his longstanding relationships with Gulf leaders. 'We are pleased with President Trump's visit to the region. He has had deep-rooted relationships with Gulf leaders since his first term,' she said. Her remarks came on the sidelines of the Fourth Annual Food Safety and Nutrition Summit, jointly organized by the US Department of Agriculture, the Ministry of Health, the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition and the US Embassy. The two-day summit is being held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with broad participation from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Ambassador Sasahara said Trump's renewed engagement with Gulf partners reflects the strength of ongoing bilateral and regional dialogue. 'President Trump is now resuming those relations through very important discussions on bilateral and regional matters. We are looking forward to the progress these talks will achieve,' she added. The ambassador emphasized the robust economic ties between the United States and Kuwait, particularly in the field of agriculture. She noted that bilateral trade in agricultural goods reached $275 million in 2024, while total US agricultural exports to the GCC amounted to $3.6 billion. 'Our embassy team has worked closely with Kuwaiti government institutions and local farmers to address food security challenges and explore how US technologies can contribute to sustainable solutions,' she said. Sasahara described agriculture and food not only as economic sectors, but also as bridges that bring nations together. She highlighted the summit's goal of enhancing cooperation and exchanging best practices in food safety and nutrition. Minister of Health Ahmad Al-Awadhi US Ambassador Karen Sasahara 'The United States exported more than $191 billion in agricultural products last year,' she said, pointing to Washington's leadership in agricultural innovation and its call for long-term investments in biotechnology, improved seeds, and fertilizers. She also noted that the US and GCC share common public health concerns, particularly the rise in obesity and chronic diseases. 'We are committed to working with our regional partners to raise nutrition standards and improve public health outcomes,' the ambassador said. For his part, Minister of Health Dr Ahmad Al-Awadhi underscored the critical importance of food safety and nutrition in achieving sustainable development. 'Ensuring access to safe and adequate food and advancing nutrition systems are fundamental pillars for sustainable progress,' he said in his opening remarks. Dr Al-Awadhi stressed that Kuwait remains committed to aligning its efforts with the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those targeting hunger eradication and sustainable agriculture. He cited Kuwait's National Food Security Strategy, enhanced import regulations, and updated guidelines for school canteens as examples of recent initiatives. Citing World Health Organization (WHO) data, the minister warned of the human toll of unsafe food, noting that more than 600 million people suffer from foodborne illnesses annually, leading to over 420,000 deaths — including 125,000 children under the age of five. 'These figures highlight the urgent need to strengthen food safety systems and raise awareness, particularly to protect vulnerable groups like children,' he said. He also addressed the global rise in obesity, pointing to WHO statistics indicating that over one billion people are currently obese. 'Childhood obesity rates have quadrupled since 1990, and in 2024, over 15 million children under five were classified as overweight,' he said. Dr Al-Awadhi called for increased investment in food inspection and laboratory capabilities across the region, and praised international partnerships, particularly with the United States and UN agencies, in developing resilient food safety systems. The summit aims to serve as a platform for regional and international stakeholders to collaborate on policy, innovation, and public health approaches that enhance food security and nutrition outcomes across the Gulf. — KUNA
Kuwait News Agency
13-05-2025
- Health
- Kuwait News Agency
Kuwait Hlt. Min.: Access to food cornerstone toward sustainable development
KUWAIT, May 13 (KUNA) -- Health Minister Dr. Ahmad Al-Awadhi affirmed on Tuesday, that ensuring everyone has access to safe and sufficient food and advancing the nutrition system and its safety represented a cornerstone in the journey toward achieving sustainable development both nationally and internationally. This came in Dr. Al-Awadhi's speech at the opening of the Fourth Annual Food Safety and Nutrition Summit, organized by the US Department of Agriculture, the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition, the Ministry of Health, and the US Embassy. The summit is being hosted over two days at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with broad participation from representatives of relevant entities in the GCC countries. Dr. Al-Awadhi stressed that placing human health and dignity at the heart of national and international policies and programs aligns with the United Nations' 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. He noted that practical experiences and scientific studies indicate that neglecting food safety and nutrition cannot merely be measured in numbers, but rather by the scale of human suffering. He referred to World Health Organization (WHO) reports showing that more than 600 million people suffer from illnesses annually due to food contamination, with these illnesses causing over 420,000 deaths each year including 125,000 children under the age of five, or around 30 percent. Children account for about nine percent of the global population. He added that the world is facing an obesity epidemic, affecting more than one billion people globally according to (WHO) reports from 2022. Obesity rates among children have quadrupled since 1990, and more than 15 million children under the age of five were overweight worldwide in 2024. He noted that Kuwait has taken tangible steps to strengthen the food security and food safety system, including launching a national food security strategy, updating regulations on imported foods, and implementing other measures. Minister Al-Awadhi praised international cooperation in this regard, particularly with relevant UN bodies, the US, and other partners supporting the development of systems to safeguard food security and its safety. For her part, US Ambassador to Kuwait Karen Sasahara stated in her speech that the US and Kuwait enjoy close and growing relations in various fields, especially in economic areas related to agriculture and food security. Trade in these sectors reached USD 275 million last year, and USD 3.6 billion in total with GCC countries. Sasahara noted that representatives of the US agricultural sector are regularly meeting and engaging in discussions with relevant authorities and ministries in Kuwait to explore the use and application of various American technologies and products in pursuit of optimal solutions for sustainable agriculture. Sasahara stated that this summit aims to deepen mutual understanding and shared perspectives on best practices for food security and safety between the US and the GCC countries. She highlighted that one of the main items on this year's summit agenda is food safety, which is considered a cornerstone of public health and a pathway to achieving sustainable food security. She emphasized that the summit also presents an opportunity to strengthen cooperation with Kuwait and serves as a platform to enhance partnerships in the fields of food security and sustainable agriculture with other participating countries. Sasahara noted that the US exported over USD 191 billion worth of agricultural products in 2024. She pointed to her country's various programs aimed at building global partnerships, sharing the latest technologies to ensure the safety of agricultural and food products, and heavily investing in scientific research related to agricultural chemicals and food safety. She added that the US shares with Kuwait and other GCC countries the health challenges related to obesity, diabetes, and chronic diseases. She explained that the US is working toward effective solutions by improving nutritional quality in its food system, studying and understanding the root causes of these issues, and promoting international cooperation in this field. (end)
