Ne’ma Collaborates With Taste Of Abu Dhabi To Promote Zero Food Waste At Culinary Festival

ne’ma, the National Food Loss and Waste Initiative, has teamed up with Taste of Abu Dhabi 2024 as its official "Food Waste Reduction Partner." This collaboration aims to educate attendees on global food waste solutions at one of the UAE's most popular culinary events. The festival will occur from 15th to 17th November at Gateway Park South on Yas Island, expecting around 17,000 visitors.

Throughout the three-day event, ne’ma will work closely with chefs, restaurants, and vendors to manage food waste effectively. They will also educate visitors on how food waste occurs and provide practical solutions that can be easily implemented in daily life. This initiative aims to raise awareness and influence individual behaviours towards food consumption.

As the national custodian for combatting food loss and waste, ne’ma is strategically partnering with ReLoop. Together, they will compost food scraps and organic materials generated at the event. This process converts waste into nutrient-rich compost for local farms, ensuring no food waste ends up in landfills.

Khuloud Hasan Al Nuwais, Chief Sustainability Officer of Emirates Foundation and ne’ma Steering Committee Secretary-General, stated: "Food waste in the UAE is estimated at 3.5 million tonnes 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 organisers to minimise their carbon footprint."

A spokesperson from Taste of Abu Dhabi expressed pride in partnering with ne’ma: "We are proud to be partnering with ne’ma to be part of a solution that is so important for the community and wider global efforts to reduce food waste." They emphasised that their platform not only spreads joy and entertainment but also integrates meaningful initiatives on a large scale.

Through effective advocacy, partnerships, and outreach, ne’ma envisions transforming the UAE into a country where no food is wasted. By providing practical solutions and raising awareness at events like Taste of Abu Dhabi, they aim to contribute to a broader cultural shift in how people approach food consumption.

This collaboration between ne’ma and Taste of Abu Dhabi highlights the importance of community involvement in addressing global challenges like food waste. By setting an example at such events, they hope to inspire other organisers to adopt similar practices.

With inputs from WAM