CEO of Hassad Food Company Engineer Mohammed Al Sada (pictured) yesterday confirmed that the company has developed a clear food security strategy for the State of Qatar by working with the main stakeholders in the government. He noted that the strategy was divided into two parts, one of which is related to developing food locally, and the other related to developing the process of storing the main commodities that cannot be grown in the region.
During a discussion session on food security within the framework of the Qatar Economic Forum, in response to a question regarding local products and the main role of the Hassad Food Company with regard to the quality of products, Al Sada said that the production includes mainly dairy products, poultry, meat and vegetables, and refined products. The company is working, regarding its plans to expand investments, to define itself as an investment fund in foodstuffs and agriculture under the umbrella of the Qatar Investment Authority, he pointed out. Internally, it has developed a local company called Hassad Qatar, which has an operational rate of 100 percent, which is basically the way to focus on helping achieve food security in the country.
Al Sada also noted that the company, based on government directions, worked to close any gaps on the shelfs at the onset of the blockade. He said: “We started communicating with more than six or seven countries globally to make sure that we stabilise the operation to supply what the market needs, and we managed to stabilise the market”.
He also reiterated that what has been achieved in this regard over the past years is a success story for Hassad which made it a very strong partner for the government in food security sector that depends on supply chains, and has succeeded in forming land and sea lines from several countries in addition to airlines that come to Qatar.
Al Sada also highlighted the company’s work during hot summer conditions, pointing out that technology and R&D basically is the answer to that, as the company uses the latest technologies in the field. He pointed out that the production of cows owned by Baladna exceeds production rates in the region. “Which is an amazing thing that happens using technology, and that helps basically to close the gap of the environmental challenges we have, just as the company’s greenhouses and vertical farming are the only way that we can close that gap,” he added.
Al Sada also noted that Hassad is doing a lot locally with some local partners, like Hamad Bin Khalifa University, which is doing a number of research projects to increase production and close the gap.
