A Sustainable Organic Production Model for “Food Sovereignty” in the United Arab Emirates and Sicily-Italy

Khalid Butti Al Shamsi, Antonio Compagnoni, Giuseppe Timpanaro, Salvatore Luciano Cosentino and Paolo Guarnaccia
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Khalid Butti Al Shamsi: Department of Agricultural, Food and Environment, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Antonio Compagnoni: IFOAM AgriBio Mediterraneo Permanent Secretariat, c/o AIAB Emilia Romagna, Casale Della Mora via Tavoni 20, 41058 Vignola, Italy
Salvatore Luciano Cosentino: Department of Agricultural, Food and Environment, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Paolo Guarnaccia: Department of Agricultural, Food and Environment, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 3, 1-18

Abstract: The aim of this research is to contribute to food security by studying the development of integrated organic production models related to the biodiversity of food sources, soil fertility and water availability, both in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Sicily. Using the FAO’s multi-facetted approach of the Sustainable Assessment of Food and Agriculture Systems (SAFA) Tool, combined with interviews and visits to two organic farming communities in the UAE and Sicily, preliminary results were obtained consisting of: SAFA reports for each farmer and each community and the identification of some additional SAFA Tool indicators for local markets and migrant worker relations. Overall, the two systems contain elements described in the literature, such as Short Food Local Systems and as such contribute to territorial food support. Some best practices in organic production, direct marketing and migrant worker integration were identified and shared with farmers. The study highlights some operational issues that will be further focused upon in the future.

Keywords: organic agriculture; Sustainable Assessment of Food and Agriculture Systems by the FAO; short food supply chains (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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