By Angel Chan
DUBAI: How much food gets wasted in the UAE every tear? A whopping US$4 billion worth, according to food industry experts.
And, Unep’s Iyad Abumoghli, says that by implementing the Food Loss and Waste (FLW) Protocol – in addition to launching the UAE Food Bank – the UAE is taking the lead in the region when it comes to reducing food wastage, and environmental policies in general.
The Food and Beverage Manufacturing Business Group (FBMG) is to begin implementing the FLW Protocol in the UAE to reduce waste, the group announced on the sidelines of Gulfood 2017. The food saved through this protocol will go towards increased donations to the UAE Food Bank.
The initiative saw FBMG cooperate with the Food Bank, the United Nations Environment Programme (Unep), Dubai Municipality, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and all food manufactures in the UAE who have pledged to collaborate with the group. It includes the creation of a food data platform – a tool to analyse available data to formulate solutions to reduce waste.
The Food Loss and Waste Accounting and Reporting Standard (or FLW Standard) is a global standard that provides requirements and guidance for quantifying and reporting on the weight of food and/or associated inedible parts removed from the food supply chain. Using the standard enables countries, cities, companies, and other entities to develop inventories of how much FLW is generated and where it goes.
$13.2 billion Industry
As it stands, the UAE is wasting $4 billion worth of food every year. With the F&B manufacturing market in the UAE slated to grow from $11.3 billion in 2015 to $13.2 billion in 2018 – and with Dubai set to become the capital of the Halal food economy – FBMG is mobilising to address and contain food wastage, increasing food donations and reducing food prices in the process.
Saleh Abdullah Lootah, FBMG Chairman, said: “Food loss and wastage is a serious concern for us and a key area for improvement. Keeping count of the losses will help us reduce them. The group is working to educate manufacturers and supply-chain decision makers on the issue in the hopes to help them put a system in place to curb the phenomenon.
“This – along with the food data platform – is likely to create new opportunities for increased revenue for the manufactures, reduce food wastage, and provide support to CSR activities such as the UAE Food Bank. Moreover, the initiative supports sustainability goals by reducing waste.”
Meanwhile, Dr Iyad Abumoghli, Director and Regional Representative of the United Nations Environment Programme (Unep) in West Asia, said: “By implementing the FLW Protocol – in addition to launching the UAE Food Bank – the UAE is joining the global traction on reducing food wastage as part of its sustainable consumption strategy.”
Established under the auspices of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Food & Beverage Manufacturing Business Group (FBMG) seeks to create a platform for F&B manufacturers to resolve industry-related challenges and take the sector in the UAE to greater heights. Membership is open to any business operating in the food & beverage manufacturing sector in the country.