• Responsible production, consumption and waste are key to UAE’s food security
  • MoU reflects Expo City Dubai’s position as a collaborative hub for sustainable progress

DUBAI– Expo City Dubai and the National Food Loss and Waste Initiative ne’ma have joined forces to tackle challenges in food production, consumption and waste through pilot projects and scalable solutions.

ne’ma is the national custodian of the Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 target to halve global per capita food waste by 2030. It spearheads and coordinates national efforts at all levels to achieve this goal, which also aligns with the UAE National Food Security Strategy 2051.

The two parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) ahead of World Food Day (16 October), outlining how they will exchange knowledge, share best practices and test ideas to expand existing interventions, such as the pioneering Food Rescue Programme piloted during Expo 2020 Dubai and retained under Expo City.

The collaboration will engage Expo City’s diverse community to drive systemic behavioural change across the entire food value chain, encouraging responsible production and consumption, championing circularity and testing new ideas that can be replicated and developed nationwide for maximum contribution to the UAE’s National Food Security Strategy 2051.

As part of its sustainability strategy, Expo City is committed to supporting solutions that give everyone access to sufficient safe and nutritious food in a sustainable manner. It has also signed the ne'ma pledge to tackle food loss and waste and is encouraging the community to support and contribute to the UAE 2030 reduction Food Loss and Waste targets.

ne’ma reflects the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, to address overconsumption and reduce food loss and waste by inspiring people to rethink their current behaviour and adopt more sustainable practices, supporting the UAE in meeting its food waste target and sustaining resources for future generations. As part of its efforts, ne’ma published its 2023 handbook, How to reduce food waste by using three low-cost nudges, a step-by-step guide to assist canteens and buffet restaurants.

Sumaya Al Ali, Vice President, Government Partnerships, Expo City Dubai, said: “Expo City Dubai is a blueprint for sustainable urban living, and tackling food loss and waste is inextricably linked to our commitment to decarbonisation. Overcoming challenges such as food security cannot be done alone, and as an innovation-driven city home to an engaged community of businesses, residents and visitors, collaboration is part of our DNA.

“Our partnership with ne’ma will support our joint, sustainable progress through new, local food solutions and food waste-related innovations, positively influencing our food and beverage vendors, driving changes in consumer behaviour and instilling practices that will sustain future generations.”

Khuloud al Nuwais, ne’ma Secretary General and Chief – Sustainability, Emirates Foundation, said: “Ahead of COP28 and beyond, the ne’ma and Expo City Dubai teams have a unique opportunity to demonstrate to the entire world that the food waste problem can be solved through collaboration, applying a holistic approach that includes utilising innovation and technology and proven best practices to create efficiency and drive behaviour change.

“ne’ma will work with Expo City to build capacity and apply key ‘nudges’ that support increasing awareness on food loss and waste and transforming behaviours that lead to waste into more positive habits. This collaboration is an opportunity to scale the impact of our step-by-step guide across the many food service providers at Expo City.”

The agreement builds on Expo City’s initiatives to minimise food waste and the previous collaboration with ne’ma, including the Food Rescue Programme, which utilises a technology that automates the food rescue process, connects donors to charities and communities in need and tracks the environmental impact of all donations. During the six months of the World Expo, more than 93,000 meals were served to those in need, 93 million litres of water were preserved and approximately 90,000 kg of carbon dioxide (CO2) diverted. Its impactful implementation during Expo 2020 prompted the exploration of a nationwide adaptation, which ultimately formed part of ne’ma’s approach to closing the loop in support of a circular economy by diverting food waste from landfill.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that almost one third of all food produced each year is either lost or wasted. While food loss is one of the root causes of hunger worldwide, it also represents a waste of land, water and energy used to produce the food. Food waste has a significant environmental impact, accounting for up to 10 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Established in March 2022, ne’ma is a collaboration of Emirates Foundation and the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.

About Expo City Dubai

  • An inclusive innovation-driven, people-centric city of the future and one of five hubs on the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, Expo City Dubai is committed to maximising its positive social, environmental and economic impact
    • Designed as a blueprint for sustainable urban living, its roadmap to achieving net zero by 2050 and its broader decarbonisation targets raise the bar on responsible urban development
    • Its ecosystem supports cross-sector collaboration and provides a springboard for businesses of all sizes to scale and grow, enhancing Dubai’s position as a global centre of trade and reinforcing the UAE’s development and diversification ambitions
    • Its residential communities redefine urban living, exemplifying best practice in innovative, environment-friendly design with a focus on wellbeing and happiness
    • An incubator for innovation, it is a testbed for solutions and a platform for groundbreaking ideas that benefit both people and the planet
    • Packed with educational, cultural and entertainment offerings and a go-to destination for globally significant events, it celebrates human creativity and ingenuity and inspires future generations
  • The legacy of Expo 2020 Dubai, Expo City Dubai connects businesses, government, organisations, educational institutions, residents and visitors, working together to drive progress and create a better, more equitable, more sustainable future for all

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About ne’ma

WHO WE ARE

ne’ma, the UAE’s National Food Loss and Waste Initiative, is a reflection of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s vision and a call to action to reduce food waste, encourage social responsibility and promote sustainable practices across the food supply chain, thereby advancing food security. 

Our target is clear: cutting food waste by half by the year 2030, affecting behavioural change in how we approach this challenge and collectively striving towards a sustainable future.

ne’ma is a collaborative effort with the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, the Emirates Foundation and many other stakeholders across the nation to build a network of trusted food loss and waste champions in the UAE.

WHAT WE DO

ne’ma works to engage all stakeholders across the food value chain to take actions to reduce food loss and waste (FLW) through a coordinated and structured approach. ne’ma’s ambition is to inspire people to look differently at food, rethink and reimagine our habits to cherish food as a blessing for generations to come, and shape and convey an engaging and enticing vision for the future.ne’ma takes a holistic and structured approach to drive systemic changes through a number of sub-projects across key strategic pillars. ne’ma sets the national baseline and strategy to achieve the national FLW reduction targets, focusing on behavior science to create new social norms. Additionally, the initiative raises awareness and influences people’s behaviors towards more positive actions. ne’ma also builds an enabling environment through reviewing and introducing new policies and innovative solutions to fill systemic gaps. This approach aims to drive circular and regenerative food-eco systems. ne’ma engages stakeholders through the scaling up of key pilots, partnering with food banks, retailors, and the hospitality sector to redirect surplus food/meals to those in need, among other valuable efforts.

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