A nationwide initiative to reduce food waste at all major events across the Emirates has been launched where leftover food will be donated to those in need or repurposed into compost to reduce carbon emissions.
An agreement was signed at the Abu Dhabi International Food Exhibition, which runs until Thursday at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, between the National Food Loss and Waste Initiative, Ne’ma, and the country’s event organisers. The measures will apply to all major public events from now on.
The move coincides with the launch of the Ne’ma Climate Conscious UAE Zero Food Waste Event Guide, complete with ten actionable steps to reduce food waste at any event or gathering.
The guide will also include case studies of successful events that achieved zero waste, such as the annual Government Summit.
First started in a pilot programme during Ramadan about a decade ago, where volunteers would stock fridges in public places so community workers could find food and drink to break their fast during iftar, the fridges are strategically located across the Emirates to help those most in need.
The pledge follows the announcement of a major public awareness drive to tackle food waste, with businesses at the heart of efforts to forge a more sustainable future.
The nationwide campaign, Valuing Our Roots, is the latest step in a long-term strategy to encourage more responsible production and consumption of food, from restaurants to households.
The UAE aims to halve food waste by 2030. Ne'ma estimates that Dh6 billion ($1.63 billion) of food is wasted in the Emirates annually.
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