Ne’ma Collaborates With Nestlé UAE And House Of Pops To Promote Sustainable Food Practices

The National Food Loss and Waste Initiative, known as ne’ma, has formalised partnerships with Nestlé UAE and House of Pops through two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). These agreements were signed in the presence of Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism. This move underscores the UAE government's dedication to involving the private sector, particularly the UAE Food Cluster, in enhancing the national food ecosystem.

Reducing food loss and waste is a strategic priority for the UAE. This initiative aims to protect natural resources, safeguard the environment, and bolster economic resilience. The MoUs highlight how private sector involvement is crucial in driving this transition towards a more sustainable food system. They reflect the collaborative spirit embedded in the nation’s development model.

Khuloud Hassan Al Nuwais, Chief Sustainability Officer at Emirates Foundation and Secretary-General of ne’ma Steering Committee, stated that these MoUs illustrate how private companies can leverage their capabilities to transform challenges into growth opportunities. "Our ambition extends beyond reducing food waste by 50% by 2030—we aim to build a food system that is more efficient, resilient, and globally competitive," she said.

Launched in 2022, ne’ma embodies the UAE’s leadership vision to cut food loss and waste by half by 2030. This aligns with both the National Food Security Strategy 2051 and UN SDG 12.3. The new MoUs are practical steps forward, engaging multinational corporations and SMEs in systemic change efforts like collaborative food rescue during Ramadan.

Nestlé UAE will support the UAE’s Food Loss and Waste Baseline Study by sharing operational data under its MoU with ne’ma. The company will also work on reducing food waste within the national Zero Food Waste Framework. This collaboration will integrate Nestlé’s solutions into broader efforts across the UAE.

Hassan Atia, General Business Manager at Nestlé UAE, remarked on this collaboration: "This collaboration reflects our commitment to responsible consumption and aligns with our broader impact in the UAE across the entire value chain." Nestlé supports over 7,200 jobs and contributes AED4.8 billion to the economy while driving innovation.

House of Pops' Initiatives

House of Pops will focus on raising awareness among youth through school roadshows and workshops under its MoU with ne’ma. The company aims to instill mindful attitudes toward food among young people. Additionally, House of Pops will engage local communities and hospitality sectors to drive systemic change.

Mazen Kanaan, CEO of House of Pops, emphasised their commitment: "We believe real change starts with awareness, especially among young people." As a homegrown brand, they feel responsible for embedding sustainable practices across society through innovative solutions that repurpose surplus produce.

Laying Groundwork for Circular Economy

The partnerships between ne’ma, Nestlé UAE, and House of Pops are setting up a foundation for a circular economy rooted in data-driven innovation. Achieving the goal of halving food loss by 2030 requires behavioural changes alongside technological investments. Collaboration across all societal sectors is essential for this transformation.

The engagement from both multinational corporations like Nestlé and local brands such as House of Pops demonstrates a united effort towards sustainability goals. These collaborations showcase how collective action can reshape not only the future of food in the UAE but also position it as a global model where no food goes wasted.

With inputs from WAM