Local farming in UAE is 'stupid' says organics CEO

Posted by: Nick
22 Mar 2011
I think what he is saying is that everyone should shop at 'Organics'?

Posted by: Chef
22 Mar 2011
No thats not what he is saying he says make deals with developing countries nearby who have the resousres and can make Healthy foods at a good price this is what you mean by the knive cuts on both sides.

Posted by: weiserite
22 Mar 2011
Organic farming is a pseudo science and a fraud. It is a belief, not something based in science. Small scale farming in Oman and the UAE of high value crops, not basic commodities, is fine as long as it is market driven and not government subsidized.

Posted by: Abdul Jaleel TS
23 Mar 2011
Mr. El Accad is perfectly right.

Posted by: Nick
23 Mar 2011
@ weiserite, You are totally wrong. I may be have been cycnical about Accad's biased statement - obvious because of hi vested interest -, but there is no doubt that organic food is better tasting, healthier for you and easier on the environment. And that's a scientific fact. It just means that you should farm dufferently in this country. Hydroponic farming e.g. can be done organically and consumes much less water. Accad doesn't even mention that, now does he? Oh , and I want to see the facts that Accad is sprouting - the carbon footprint comparison of organic food imported from South Africa versus local traditionally grown produce.

Posted by: Jb1rare
26 Mar 2011
Nils has some good ideas and points, especially about depleation of the ground water and a great imagination about utilizing Pakistan and all. On the other hand, the UAE worked at and strived to show independence from the rest of the world for a while now and the desalization of sea water is indeed a great boon for this dry little region to practice independence from all the rest of the world. And as Nick above has said, sience with Hyroponics and agro tents has created the best system yet. The importation of produce such as Broccoli, Cabbage, Apples and Pears will still continue, especially for all the Europeans and Americans to consume. And the viability of growing locally,Tomatoes, Lettuce, Cucumbers and onions is still too a good of a thing and a great living for the UAE Farmers. Oh and do not forget the wonderful date production.

Posted by: weiserite
27 Mar 2011
Organic food is NOT healthier a false claim that organic "growers" no longer can make. A tomato grown with cow excrement or urea and other manufactured fertilizers is still the same tomato. A tomato or any other plant is what it because of its genetic keys. There is no scientific test that can differentiate whether a tomato or any other plant was grown "organically" or not. That is why they need paper certifications. Taste of fruits and vegetables depends on day/night temperature differentials, variety, general plant health, post harvest handling and cooling and other variables, not whether it had "natural" or manufacured fertilizers and pesticides. As I said before, organic claims are fraud and there is no science behind them. Environmentally organic farming would be an environmental catastrophe. A large increase in livestock numbers would be required for all that "natural" fertilizer and much much more farmland - from where? Cutting down more forests?