Introduction

The University utilizes its Community Engagement Office to make a meaningful impact during the holy month of Ramadan. Recognizing the heightened significance of food security and hunger alleviation during this time, the university actively collaborates with local communities to organize initiatives such as food drives, iftar (breaking of the fast) programs, and distribution of food packages to vulnerable populations. ASU mobilizes its students, faculty, and staff to volunteer their time and resources, ensuring that those in need have access to nourishing meals during Ramadan. Through these community engagement activities, the university demonstrates its commitment to fostering compassion, solidarity, and social responsibility, thereby contributing to the larger objective of achieving zero hunger and creating a more inclusive society.

Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2) aims to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. This goal is crucial in ensuring that people have access to nutritious food and can live a healthy life. The University recognizes the importance of SDG 2 and has taken steps to contribute to its achievement. This report will discuss how ASU and Bahrain as a country help in achieving SDG 2. Bahrain has made significant progress in achieving SDG 2. The country has implemented several initiatives to ensure food security and promote sustainable agriculture. The government has invested in modernizing the agricultural infrastructure and providing farmers with access to better technology and equipment. This has led to an increase in crop yields and improved food security in the country, Bahrain initiatives for this SDG are: (https://www.sdgs.gov.bh/Goal/?ID=IK/tzVKdHyOcO3eeXhegIg==):

The National Initiative for Agricultural Development (NIAD)  

The National Initiative for Agricultural Development, which was launched in 2010 to implement the directives of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, is working on several projects that support agricultural workers, increase green spaces, stimulate, and support agricultural manufacturing industries. This includes providing support for the maintenance of the farmers markets in Budaiya and Hoorat A’ali, alongside the offering of agricultural programs to support entrepreneurs, in cooperation with Tamkeen, at the Agricultural Incubators Centre in Hoorat A’ali since 2018.

Agricultural Capacities

Developing local agricultural capacities is essential to safeguarding the supply of food against external shocks. The Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture offers agricultural advisory services to 24 farms every month and follows-up on the progress of local agricultural production. The Ministry also offers a training program that has seen the enrollment of over 900 Bahrainis to learn the use of the latest farming techniques, develop their skills in managing the agricultural challenges posed by climate change, and how to maximize production yields considering environmental difficulties. Land availability is crucial, and the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture offers lands that are suitable for agricultural investment through the government’s Land Investment Platform, which was launched in 2022.

Fisheries and Poultry  

Fisheries is a key sector in Bahrain and the Government has been working on multiple initiatives. This includes facilitating training programs in fish farming with Tamkeen in 2019, setting up a new fish farm in the Southern Governorate in 2020, and collaborating with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and other partners to develop two new state of the art fin fish hatcheries. The Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture champions poultry projects, for example, with the 2022 expansion of the Delmon Poultry Company, that saw the company move to vertical construction to address the space challenge and raise its production by 50 percent.