ne’ma, the National Food Loss and Waste Initiative, has signed two Memoranda of Understanding with Nestlé UAE and House of Pops to strengthen private sector engagement in reducing food loss and waste.
The agreements, signed in the presence of Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, mark a step forward in the UAE’s goal to halve food waste by 2030.
The partnerships highlight the role of private companies in advancing the nation’s sustainability agenda and building a more resilient food ecosystem. Reducing food loss and waste is a core pillar of the UAE’s National Food Security Strategy 2051 and aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal 12.3.
Under its agreement, Nestlé UAE will share operational data for ne’ma’s Food Loss and Waste Baseline Study, integrate existing best practices into the national Zero Food Waste Framework, and collaborate on awareness campaigns. The company also committed to diverting surplus food from landfills and advancing scalable solutions across the value chain.
House of Pops will lead community and youth-focused awareness programs, including school roadshows and workshops, while working with the hospitality sector to embed sustainable practices. The homegrown brand also aims to repurpose surplus and imperfect produce, demonstrating circular solutions to reduce waste.
Khuloud Hassan Al Nuwais, Chief Sustainability Officer at Emirates Foundation and Secretary-General of ne’ma’s Steering Committee, said the partnerships reflect the UAE’s commitment to building an efficient and globally competitive food system. She emphasized the importance of collective action, urging more companies to join the effort.
Launched in 2022, ne’ma unites government, business, and community partners in tackling food waste. The new MoUs signal growing momentum for collaboration, positioning the UAE as a potential global model for sustainable food management.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
