After initially saying it hoped Qatar would produce 70% of its own food by 2023, the QNFSP is now aiming for 40% domestic production. The man who was its driving force, Fahad al-Attiya, has also stepped away.
Experts see that as a sensible decision.
Jim Krane, a Gulf energy analyst, calls the food security programme “wrong-headed”.
“The programme’s investment into Qatari agriculture never made any sense,” he says.
Mr Krane explains that the current burning of natural gas to power groundwater desalination plants that can produce water to irrigate crops grown in the desert is exacerbating Qatar’s already huge carbon emissions.
“It only adds to Qatari…
