The national initiative aimed at reducing food loss and waste, known as “Na’ma,” has announced the signing of two memorandums of understanding with Nestlé UAE and House of Pops. The signing ceremony took place in the presence of His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, underscoring the UAE government’s commitment to supporting the UAE Food Coalition, which is managed by the Ministry of Economy, in reshaping the national food system.
These memorandums highlight the crucial role of the private sector in accelerating the transition towards a more sustainable food system and prioritizing the reduction of food loss and waste as a strategic goal for the UAE. This initiative aims not only to safeguard resources and the environment but also to boost the efficiency of the national economy. The collaboration reflects a growing commitment to turn this vision into reality and embodies the cooperative spirit that defines the Emirati model of development.
A National Initiative Uniting Partners
The announcement of these cooperation agreements marks a significant milestone in the journey of “Na’ma,” which was launched in 2022 as a national initiative to unify the efforts of the government, private sector, and civil society with the goal of halving food loss and waste by 2030. This aligns with the National Food Security Strategy 2051 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly target 12.3. Strategic partnerships with multinational corporations and small to medium-sized enterprises represent actionable steps toward achieving this ambition.
On this occasion, Khaloud Hassan Al Nuaimi, Chief Sustainability Officer at the Emirates Foundation and Secretary-General of the Na’ma Initiative, stated: “These partnerships with Nestlé and House of Pops serve as a practical example of harnessing the power of the private sector to turn the challenges of food loss and waste into opportunities for growth and innovation. Our aim goes beyond just reducing waste by 50% by 2030; we seek to build a more efficient and resilient food system that supports the national economy and contributes to positioning the UAE as a global leader in food security and sustainability. This step reinforces that addressing complex challenges requires broad alliances between the government, private sector, and community to find scalable and applicable solutions both locally and globally.”
Al Nuaimi added: “We have an extraordinary opportunity to showcase the value of collaborative work that can reshape the future of food in the UAE and the wider region, hence we invite the private sector to actively engage in this endeavor. Our success in this mission is essential to realizing the aspirations of the Na’ma initiative and making the UAE a global model for a country with zero food waste.”
Nestlé: Data-Driven Contributions and Expertise
Under the memorandum of understanding, Nestlé UAE will contribute to the essential study on food loss and waste led by the Na’ma initiative by sharing relevant operational data and analytical insights. Additionally, Nestlé will work closely with Na’ma to reduce waste and loss within the national “Zero Food Waste” framework, ensuring the integration of Nestlé’s existing solutions and best practices into a broader national effort. Through this collaboration, both Na’ma and Nestlé will develop operational guidelines and practical tools for Na’ma, as well as design and implement joint awareness and educational programs to divert surplus food away from landfills. The partnership aims to enhance knowledge exchange and capacity building, fostering scalable solutions to minimize waste across various stages of the value chain.
In this context, Hassan Atiyah, General Manager of Nestlé UAE, remarked: “This collaboration reflects our commitment to responsible consumption and aligns with our broader impact in the UAE through the entire value chain, where we support over 7,200 jobs and contribute 4.8 billion AED in total economic value while fostering innovation in all our operations.”
Focus on Youth and Community
House of Pops, in accordance with the cooperation agreement with the Na’ma initiative, will lead community efforts aimed at raising awareness about the importance of reducing food loss and waste through school tours, workshops, and field activities targeted at the youth.
Moreover, House of Pops will engage the hospitality sector, local community, and stakeholders to promote systemic change. Additionally, the company will integrate innovation and engage tech startups and data exchange to expand national impact and enhance innovative solutions in minimizing loss and waste.
Mazeen Kanaan, CEO of House of Pops, stated: “We believe that real change begins by increasing and deepening awareness, especially among youth. As a UAE-based brand, we see our responsibility in embedding sustainability practices within the community. Through innovative solutions that repurpose surplus and imperfect products in our industry, we aim to reshape the food system to ensure recycling and waste reduction. Our partnership with Na’ma gives us the opportunity to create a broad impact, encouraging schools, communities, and the hospitality sector to adopt more sustainable practices that align with the UAE’s vision, where the community is our main market.”
Through these collaborations, the UAE is laying a practical foundation for building a comprehensive food system based on data and innovation while drawing inspiration from global best practices. These efforts highlight that achieving the UAE’s goal of halving loss and waste by 2030 requires a holistic approach that combines behavioral change, investment in modern technologies, and cooperation among diverse entities.