DUBAI, UAE, 4 February 2025: Global tech company, Beyond ONE, today launched Terrace Talks, a new thought leadership series designed to advance the solution of pressing global challenges through meaningful dialogue and action looking at the role of technology. The inaugural event, focused on sustainability and conservation, brought together international experts and regional innovators who showcased how cross-sector collaboration can drive tangible results.
Markus Tagger, Group CEO of Beyond ONE, said: “The world needs fewer conferences and more real conversations that lead somewhere. Terrace Talks brings together people who are driving change in their fields, to share what’s working and forge new partnerships. Today we’ve seen how that approach delivers results – from protecting rainforests to transforming how we handle food waste in our region. While technology can improve the world if mindfully used, it still causes significant damage to our planet, people, and society. Terrace Talks aims to address these tensions and spark thinking towards joint solutions”
The inaugural Terrace Talks brought together Peter Bennett, Founder Director of Rainforest Concern; Lama Saleh, Programme Development Director at Goumbook; and Dr. Haythem Riahi, CEO and Founder of Circa Biotech. Each speaker shared insights and achievements demonstrating how different sectors are driving environmental innovation and impact.
Bennett detailed the impact of corporate-conservation partnerships through Beyond ONE’s support of Ecuador’s Neblina Reserve. The protected area has grown to nearly 3,000 hectares, recently documenting the return of rare species including jaguars and the Longnose Harlequin Frog, previously thought extinct.
“When companies like Beyond ONE commit to conservation, we move beyond traditional CSR to achieve lasting impact,” said Bennett. “Our partnership has not only protected 480 hectares of critical cloud forest but is actively supporting biodiversity – as evidenced by recent sightings of species many thought were lost forever. This is what meaningful corporate conservation looks like.”
Regional innovation featured prominently, with Dr. Haythem Riahi, CEO of Circa Biotech, announcing a partnership with leading regional supermarket chain Spinneys that has achieved a 54% reduction in food waste through advanced biotechnology.
“Our partnership with Spinneys proves that sustainable solutions can deliver real business value,” said Riahi. “A 54% reduction in food waste isn’t just an environmental win – it’s transforming how businesses think about waste management. The UAE is becoming a testbed for these kinds of innovative sustainability solutions.”
Lama Saleh, Programme Development Director at Goumbook, outlined frameworks for multi-stakeholder environmental action through their initiatives like the MENA Oceans program.
“The UAE is uniquely positioned to drive sustainability innovation in the MENA region,” said Saleh. “Through our campaigns and initiatives like ‘Give a Ghaf’ and ‘MENA Oceans’, we’re demonstrating how local knowledge and regional best practices can meet to develop effective environmental solutions tailored to our region by engaging diverse stakeholders.”
The bi-monthly series leverages Dubai’s unique position as a global hub to bring together thought leaders, innovators and decision-makers tackling critical challenges – from technological disruption to economic inclusion – turning dialogue into meaningful action.
