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The UAE has initiated a national action plan to cut food loss and waste by 50% by 2030, addressing global and regional challenges related to food loss, food waste, and food insecurity.

The announcement was made during the fourth National Dialogue on Food Security, organized by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment in collaboration with ne’ma, the National Food Loss and Waste Initiative. Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment unveiled the roadmap during the event.

The event, themed “Call for Change: Reducing Food Loss and Waste in the UAE,” featured panel discussions addressing challenges and solutions. Emphasis was placed on mobilizing the public and private sectors and the community to foster changes in current consumption habits.

The roadmap aims to establish new social norms, scale best practices, and implement policies throughout the country’s food ecosystem to reduce food waste and loss.

“Since its launch, ne’ma has delivered exceptional work – including food system mapping, setting goals and formalizing a three-year strategy to reduce food loss and waste,” said Almheiri.

“Our goal is to become a nation where no food is wasted,” Almheiri stated. Earlier this year, she launched the COP28 Food Systems and Agricultural Agenda, highlighting that globally, one-third of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted, with the uneaten food estimated to be enough to feed two billion people, according to the World Food Program.