“Innovative Commercial Solutions for Food Security in the Gulf Cooperation Council”

Theme Rationale

The countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) import approximately 85% of their food requirements at an annual cost exceeding $53 billion. This dependence is driven by water scarcity, an arid climate, and limited arable land.

Regional food supplies are also vulnerable to geopolitical tensions and disruptions affecting key maritime routes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz and Bab Al-Mandab.

The Yusuf bin Ahmed Kanoo Award seeks innovative and commercially viable solutions that strengthen food security and transform this regional challenge into an economic opportunity.

Eligibility

The Award is open to:

• Arab researchers affiliated with Arab or international universities
• Practitioners and policy analysts
• Think-tank researchers
• Innovators and industry specialists

Priority Areas

Research may focus on:

• Supply-chain resilience and diversification
• Agricultural technology and domestic production
• Innovative financing and investment models
• Food-loss reduction and logistics

Submission Requirements

Each submission should clearly explain:

• The food-security challenge being addressed
• The proposed commercial solution
• Its financial and practical feasibility
• Its potential impact on GCC food security
• A clear pathway towards implementation

Submissions should provide practical recommendations for policymakers, investors and commercial operators.

Evaluation Criteria

Submissions will be evaluated according to:

• Relevance and significance
• Innovation and originality
• Commercial feasibility
• Potential impact
• Sustainability and scalability

Preference will be given to interdisciplinary solutions that encourage regional cooperation and can expand beyond the pilot stage.

Structure:

• Abstract: A summary of 300-200 words.
• Introduction: Includes background, objectives, and significance of the research.
• Methodology: Detailed explanation of the research methods used.
• Findings: Presentation of key research findings.
• Discussion: Analysis of findings and potential implications.
• Conclusion: Summary of the research impact on the Arab region.
• Recommendations: Main recommendations for research for moving forward.
• References: List of sources and references used in the research.

Submission Format:

• Research should be submitted in WORD format.
• Length should not exceed 10,000 words.
• The language of the research could be either Arabic or English.
• A soft copy including the researcher’s C.V. and a recent photo is to be sent to: Kanoo.award@kanoo.com
• A hard copy including the researcher’s C.V. and a recent photo is to be sent to Kanoo Award Address.

Address: 

Office 121 | 12th Floor | Kanoo Tower | Entrance 155 | Road 17033 Block 317 | Diplomatic Area | Kingdom of Bahrain

Telephone: +973 1722615