Ensuring Food Security

We consume more than we produce

The world’s 7.6 billion people currently consume 1.7 times more than the earth can replace in a given year. This food barely sustains our current population and comes at a great cost to our wildlife, water supply and climate.

With the world population estimated to reach 9.8 billion by 2050, we would need 70% more food – more than another planet’s worth – to sustain the human race.

A sustainable approach to food is of the utmost importance to ensure our survival and future prosperity.

One solution presents itself in the form of food waste. Globally, one-third of all food produced goes to waste.

This food requires precious natural resources to produce and produces significant emissions in its distribution cycle. If we saved this food from waste, we would save 250 trillion litres of water a year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a significant 8%.

Locally, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MoCCAE) pegs the cost of food loss and waste in the UAE at an average $3.5 billion a year.

As the UAE’s population expands and our food consumption continues to grow at a rate of 12% per year, it is time for us to sow the seeds of long term food security.

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A fresh approach to waste

Only 5% of the land in the UAE can be used to support agriculture. As the population and demand for food have risen over the years, the UAE has come to rely on imports for the majority of its food.

With 85% of our food imported from other regions, our food – and our waste – has a high cost and environmental footprint.

Climate change presents another challenge to food security, threatening to disrupt global weather and agriculture patterns.

Now is a crucial time to rethink our approach to food production, distribution and waste management.

Ensuring food security in the UAE

The UAE’s National Food Security Strategy 2051 envisions a world with zero hunger in which everyone has access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food.

In alignment with national priorities, Emirates Nature-WWF plans to achieve the following impact.

Healthy vegetable food by Anna Pelzer from unsplash

1. Improve Food Security by helping and incentivising major supply chain players, universities and schools to reduce food loss and waste, and setting up centralised recycling and processing hubs.

The UAE aims to halve food waste by 2030, in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.

2. Enhance Health and Well-Being by supporting legislation, policies, public engagement campaigns and restaurant initiatives that promote healthy eating.

This will help the UAE achieve SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being.

3. Enhance Environmental Sustainability by reducing food waste and associated loss of natural resources, and supporting organisations in lowering their greenhouse gas emissions.

4. Encourage Ethical Responsibility by inspiring corporates and people to reduce food wastage and promote healthy eating.

CONTRIBUTING TO UAE’S Food Security

Interested in one of the below partnership opportunities? Contact our team to get started.

Establish a national baseline for food loss and waste levels to identify hotspots for action.
Contribute to national strategies and regulations by participating in surveys, workshops and a government accelerator program.
Join our movement to Save 1/3 of all food from going to waste, by inspiring people to change the way they shop, cook and eat.
Engage UAE youth by developing educational resources and programmes for schools and universities, and supporting a public awareness campaign.

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