The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority is implementing a series of initiatives and projects aimed at reducing food loss and waste and enhancing agricultural sustainability in the emirate, as part of the campaign it launched to reduce food loss and waste under the slogan “Together for Blessings to Last.”
The Authority explained in a statement on the occasion of the International Day for Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, which falls on September 29 of each year, that one of the pioneering initiatives in this field is the “Innovative Solution for Broiler Feeding Initiative,” which aims to recycle food waste from restaurants and grocery stores. And reusing it in poultry feed, which contributes to reducing the cost of feed and achieving food sustainability.
The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority also works closely with the National Initiative to Reduce Food Loss and Waste “Naama” to ensure a systematic approach and the implementation of comprehensive strategies to combat food loss and waste.
The year 2022 witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding by the two sides to confirm the compatibility of the main priorities to reduce food loss and waste in the UAE with the National Food Security Strategy 2051.
The two sides also cooperated during the holy month of Ramadan to implement a field study, with the aim of understanding behaviors and patterns of food consumption in the hospitality and hotel sector during the holy month.
The study showed that food waste increases by 9% during the month of Ramadan compared to other months, as a result of excess production and excessive consumption.
In this context, the Authority has entered into partnerships with major companies in the retail sector, such as “Spinneys” and “Circa Biotech”, with the aim of converting its food waste into animal feed and organic fertilizers, which contributes to enhancing the circular economy and reducing dependence on natural resources.
The partnership with Spinneys and Circa Biotech resulted in reducing food waste that ends up in landfill by 54% during a pilot project that lasted 6 months and included all Spinneys stores in Abu Dhabi, where organic waste was converted into animal feed and organic fertilizers. and sustainable biofuels using black soldier fly larvae.
As part of its comprehensive efforts to reduce food waste, the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority has implemented multiple initiatives in the livestock sector.
An initiative was launched to develop mechanisms for the safe disposal of animals infected with diseases, while making the most of the meat in a healthy manner, which contributed to enhancing biosecurity and protecting human and animal health.
The Authority also supported farmers by providing guidance on improving animal nutrition, which led to reducing feed waste and improving productivity. In addition, many awareness workshops and lectures were organized for farmers on best practices in the field of animal production and reducing waste.
The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority works to organize awareness workshops and lectures for farmers and consumers, provide the necessary technical support to implement sustainable agricultural practices, provide technical support and agricultural guidance, and educate farmers about the best practices that can be followed to maintain the quality of fruits after harvest by quickly cooling them immediately after harvest and storing them. At optimal temperatures in order to increase the shelf life of fruits and thus reduce fruit loss.
It is also keen to direct farmers to plant varieties that are most suitable for the country’s climate and the nature of agricultural lands, with the aim of ensuring optimal use of limited natural resources, in addition to providing recommendations to farmers about agricultural techniques that help raise the efficiency of agricultural production, and the importance of using renewable resources such as solar energy and recycled water.
The Authority also provides training programs for workers in the agricultural sector that contribute to building their awareness of the concept of sustainability and help qualify them to use medicines and pesticides in the correct way, and to carry out the harvesting process in a way that preserves the quality of the agricultural product and reduces damage during the post-harvest process.
The Authority recently issued 36 guidelines for maintaining the quality of fruits after harvest, covering 41 crops. This is based on its belief that post-harvest transactions are one of the important elements in the production stages and an important pillar of the food security system.
The Authority stressed that combating food waste contributes significantly to addressing global environmental challenges, such as climate change and loss of biodiversity, noting that the celebration of the International Day for Awareness of Food Loss and Waste represents a call to all, individuals and institutions, to work together to build a sustainable future, calling on all individuals. The community needs to participate in these efforts by adopting responsible consumption habits and reducing food waste in their homes.
The celebration of the International Day for Awareness of Food Loss and Waste is an important occasion to highlight the efforts made worldwide to reduce this phenomenon, while the initiatives of the Abu Dhabi Agriculture Authority are an integral part of this global effort, as they contribute to placing the country among the leading countries in the field of agricultural sustainability. and food security.
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