ne’ma – the National Food Loss and Waste Initiative, has collaborated with Taste of Abu Dhabi 2024, as its official “Food Waste Reduction Partner” to educate festival-goers on global food waste solutions at one of the UAE’s most popular culinary events.
The community event will be held from November 15 to 17 at Gateway Park South on Yas Island, with an estimated 17,000 visitors expected to attend.
Throughout the three-day event, ne’ma will collaborate with participating chefs, restaurants, and vendors to manage food waste effectively. ne’ma will also educate visitors on how food waste occurs, providing practical solutions that can be easily implemented in day-to-day life.
As the national custodian for combatting food loss and waste – ne’ma is strategically partnering with ReLoop to compost food scraps and organic materials generated at the event, converting the waste into nutrient-rich compost for local farms. This partnership ensures no food waste ends up in landfills, according to the statement.
Khuloud Hasan Al Nuwais, Chief Sustainability Officer of Emirates Foundation and ne’ma Steering Committee Secretary-General said that, “Food waste in the UAE is estimated at 3.5 million tons annually, highlighting the critical need for partnerships to drive meaningful change.”
“Our collaboration with Taste of Abu Dhabi enables ne’ma to engage with the community directly and sets a new standard for event organizers to minimize their carbon footprint. By providing practical solutions and raising awareness, we aim to influence individual behaviors and contribute to a broader cultural shift in our approach to food consumption,” Al Nuwais further added.
