Decline in food quantity or quality during production, storage, and processing.
Waste at the retail and consumer levels due to behaviors by retailers, food services and consumers.
Issues relating to food loss and waste have attracted significant attention in recent years, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to address these challenges.
At a global level, one third of the food produced for human consumption - corresponding to roughly 1.05 billion tons per year is wasted (UNEP, 2023). Meanwhile, the world’s population is predicted to reach 10 billion by 2050, while the amount of FLW is projected to double as the food system expands to meet the demand. These substantial volumes have a significant economic and financial cost as well as environmental and social impacts.
The UAE has set an ambitious goal of reducing food loss and waste by 50 percent by 2030, aiming to enhance its food safety and security in the process. With a hospitable culture, strong purchasing power, a growing population, and increasing food imports; food loss and waste has become a prominent issue. Yet no rigorous assessment of the level of food loss and waste in the UAE has been implemented.
ne’ma is leading on the delivery of the first UAE Food Loss and Waste Baseline Study which has the following key objectives:
During the study, data collectors will conduct in-person visits to various key locations throughout the UAE’s food value chain and collect primary data. Secondary data research will support establishing a comprehensive understanding of the quantities of food lost and wasted across the Emirates in each value chain.
18 months (Sep 2024 – March 2026)
All seven Emirates
Each strategic collaborator is requested to appoint points of contact that will actively participate across the following relevant dimensions during the baseline study:
Nominate specialists to offer insights and ongoing support throughout the study, focusing on areas such as food-sector policies and regulations, food security, food waste management and all stages of food value chain, encompassing production, manufacturing, distribution, retail and food services.
Provide any available food loss and waste data and estimates for the periods of 2023-2024 and 2021-2022 (if needed).
Support the national baseline study on food loss and waste by permitting access to your facility to authorized ne’ma data collectors, identified by branded uniforms and IDs. The data collectors will conduct visits across UAE households, farms, and food businesses to provide colored bags for food waste segregation, and measure food waste during two phases: