GREATER fertiliser production and use will help Middle Eastern states meet the challenges of inadequate food output, an Arab official has said.

A combination of greater fertiliser production and optimal utilisation of natural resources can add value to the fertiliser industry and contribute to economic and social development, stressed Dr Abdulrahman Jawahery, chairman of the Arab Fertilisers Association (AFA). He was speaking at the opening of the 21st Annual Forum of the AFA in the Egyptian resort city of Hurghada.

Jawahery is also president of Bahrain’s Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (GPIC).

Meetings between several committees during and on the sidelines of the AFA forum focused on global policies, the balance of supply and demand and the extent to which global policies and international environmental standards can be put in place.

The event was described as an important platform to examine the current state of the Arab fertiliser industry and discuss what the future holds. Around 500 representatives from major Arab fertiliser and petrochemical companies as well as a group of experts from 40 other countries all over the world attended the forum.

Jawahery outlined the key challenges of food security facing the Arab world and pointed out that agriculture production in the region did not meet the increase in human growth, leading to a widening food gap and increasing imports. This is happening at a time when the world is facing challenges and changing with an increase in poverty, unemployment and scarce rainfall. There have been droughts in many countries with the consequent risk of starvation, he added.

With a billion hungry people globally and the world population set to increase to eight billion by 2030, the scenario is a difficult one, Jawahery said. A severe shortage of energy, including natural gas, would occur, making up one of the many challenges the fertiliser industry would face. Still, there was a need to provide various types of fertilisers.

The global rise in demand for agricultural products had boosted output in fertiliser production, Jawahery stated.

He said the Arab fertiliser sector has been able to consolidate its position in the global market as a result of an abundance of raw materials such as natural gas, rock phosphate and potash, and had emerged as an industry of great importance for Arab economies.

The forum coincided with the 40th anniversary celebrations of the AFA. Since its inception in 1975, the annual event has discussed achievements of the industry, presented strategies and visions aimed at members and international companies and has contributed to efforts to bridge the food gap.