‘Agro-industry should address evolving needs’

As food habits continue to change, the agro-industry should develop according to the requirements and needs of both the country and its residents, an expert has said.Dr Tahra el-Obeid, an assistant professor specialising in food technology and human nutrition at Qatar University’s College of Health Sciences, said the agro-industry should cope with evolving trends in people’s food habits, which, according to her, “have changed in the past 100 years.”“Today, people are more conscious of the different health components of the food they eat. People are now moving to eating leaner and healthier foods. If we are thinking of production per se or industrialisation of the different kinds of foods, we have to take these changes into consideration according to the needs of the country or the population. We have to design foods that are suitable for their consumption,” she said.In the past 10 years, el-Obeid said people’s eating habits “were unhealthy.”“People were eating more meat products and fatty foods. But in the last two years, people have started to realise that the rate of diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer cases have increased,” she pointed out.She noted that people are now trying “healthier options,” which has opened up a growing market for organic products and similar types of foods.“Most of the restaurants and retail outlets now offer healthy options and different types of healthy foods. Even supermarkets offer organic products. If there wasn’t a market then these products would not have been available,” she said.She also stressed that authorities in Qatar make sure that imported foods and other products meet required government standards.Asked about the agro-industry’s role in food security, el-Obeid said, “If we are to focus on growing agricultural produce, we should also focus on growing commodities that are sustainable without depleting thecountry’s natural resources.“While you can import some foods, which is actually cheaper, there is also a need to focus on existing foods in Qatar such as the country’s rich marine life or dates, truffles, and different kinds of plants. To promote the exports of these products would also create a positive impact,” she said.