Doha: The Ministry of Municipality has joined a global campaign on curbing food wastes ‘Recipe for Change,’ educating the community about the importance of reducing food wastes for food security and environmental protection.
The Recipe for Change campaign was launched by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in West Asia to reduce food waste. Running an awareness campaign on its social networking sites, the Ministry of Municipality said that the campaign focuses on spreading awareness and taking serious steps for a sustainable future.
The ministry said that consumers can follow some easy steps to reduce food waste, which require their behavioural changes such as preparing smaller portions of food, reducing the amount of prepared food helps in reducing food waste, making a shopping list before going out to buy groceries to avoid unnecessary items.
“Watch for expiration dates. Use your stored food before it expires, to reduce throwing in the garbage. Minimise throwing of leftovers. Save edible leftovers and eat them in your next meals. Donate what you don’t need if you don’t need food, donate it to those who need it. Be the main ingredient of our journey to change by sharing and publishing. Take action for a world of zero-waste food and an exceptional food security. Be the main ingredient of our journey to change by sharing and publishing the #Recipe_For_Change,” said the ministry.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) defines food waste as food that is fit for human consumption, but has been removed from the food supply chain, either because of the consumer’s personal desire, spoilage or expiration.
This global problem affects the West Asian region and is due to countless factors, including four main components.
Participate in the journey of change by sharing and publishing the #Recipe_For_Change, the ministry urged.
Food waste is a serious problem due its contribution to declining food security and reducing the abundance of nutrient for human consumption, it also has a lasting impact and harmful effects on the environment and natural resources.
To enhance state efforts to reduce food waste in Qatar in August last year a ministerial decision was issued making it mandatory for all entities to sort out their wastes into organic and solid. The sorting out of wastes from source will help the authorities concerned to know the quantity of wastage and track the reason for wasting organic products (food items) and the motive behind wasting foods which is unacceptable behaviour and needs to be changed.
At the same time the initiative will help recycle the organic wastes into other products, like fodders and fertilisers.
The Ministry of Municipality adopted a strategic plan to reduce food waste and surplus agricultural production.
A supreme committee for consultancies will be assigned to make the programmes to reduce food waste and surplus agricultural production. Under the strategy, subjects related to the issue of reducing food waste will be added in school curricula and awareness campaigns will be launched to develop a food saving culture.
Students will be given tutorials about the importance of food in life and how to reduce its wastage, for example by buying only the quantity which is required.
