Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment has unveiled the ‘Ne’ma Food Loss and Waste Reduction Roadmap,’ a robust plan aimed at reducing food loss and waste in the country by 50 percent by 2030.
The announcement took place during the fourth National Dialogue on Food Security, an event organized by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment in collaboration with ne’ma, the National Food Loss and Waste Initiative. The theme of the event was ‘Call for Change: Reducing Food Loss and Waste in the UAE.’
The discussions at the event emphasized the significance of a collective understanding of how food loss and waste contribute crucially to achieving food security, promoting sustainable consumption, and fostering circular ecosystems, according to
Dialogue Stresses Solutions and Collaboration to Tackle Food Loss and Waste Challenges
The focus was on identifying challenges, proposing solutions, mapping food loss and waste hotspots, addressing systemic gaps, and promoting best practices. The discussions highlighted the need to mobilize the public and private sectors, along with the broader community, to instigate changes in current consumption habits.
Mariam Almheiri, in announcing the strategic roadmap, stated, “With only a few days until our nation hosts COP28, this event underscores the strong commitment of the UAE in addressing all sectors that have a defining role in addressing the impact of climate change. Food and agriculture systems play a pivotal role in this regard, especially with food loss and waste being one of the core challenges that humanity must address as a priority.”
At COP28, the UAE is placing food and agricultural systems transformation at the forefront of discussions. Almheiri has previously launched the COP28 Food Systems and Agricultural Agenda, an ambitious plan aimed at transforming global food systems and ensuring their long-term sustainability.
Almheiri Stresses Urgency in Tackling Global Food Loss, Citing World Food Programme Data
Addressing the global importance of tackling food loss and waste, Almheiri noted, “Today, according to the World Food Programme, one-third of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted globally. Furthermore, it is estimated that all the food produced but never eaten would be sufficient to feed two billion people.”
The event brought together stakeholders from the public and private sectors, regulators, representatives from all stages of the food value chain, technology and innovation startups, and local and international subject matter experts. Panel discussions covered topics such as creating a circular and closed-loop food ecosystem, adopting responsible sustainable habits, and understanding the root causes of food loss as a complex challenge that requires collective effort.
A demonstration of ‘Zero Food to Landfill’ showcased how all food would be segregated, reused or repurposed, and returned to nature. Participants were encouraged to reduce food loss and waste, and Ne’ma ‘Food is Blessing’ leftover bags were distributed.
