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How to avoid food waste and food shortages, especially in the UAE, was the subject of a raging special iftar debate organized by eco-transition benchmarking firm Veolia Near & Middle East.
The event brought together some 40 participants, including Pascal Grante, CEO of Veolia Near and Middle East; Thierry Dezenclos, CEO of Veolia UAE; and some of the leading voices in the field, to discuss reducing food waste and supporting food security in the UAE Innovative solutions for work.
The debate was moderated by Najia Qazi, Founder and CEO of Sustainable Narrative, and featured three speakers: Marie Therese Laguerre, Director of Strategy and Marketing, Africa, Near and Middle East, Veolia; William Ward, Regional Director, Green Eco Technologies; and The WasteLab’s Co-founder Ceylan Uren.
water shortage area
Grant commented: “This event is more relevant to the Middle East and North Africa region – the most water-scarce region in the world where climate change-induced issues, including dwindling natural resources and increased pollution, threaten local agricultural production and economies. As such, We must join forces with all key stakeholders to ensure efficient use of these valuable resources and to find sustainable, practical and innovative solutions to these problems.”
Dezenclos said: “There is no better time than Ramadan to discuss how we can work together more effectively and fill gaps in food security and food waste reduction, and to understand what a difference we can make in the world industry level and as individuals. I thank everyone today Join us in making this event meaningful as part of Veolia’s efforts to share knowledge, build local capacity and find new ways to achieve more sustainable ecosystems.”
“I think both food security and food waste require a multifaceted approach that includes efficient use of resources such as water and energy, increased productivity through innovation, improved food storage facilities, and reduced waste and more sustainable reuse,” Laguerre said. It. Moreover., we need to pay more attention to raising awareness of how food security and food waste are not only a moral imperative, but also critical to any country’s economic growth, social stability and environmental sustainability.”
The important role of innovation
Ward highlighted how innovation can play an important role in addressing issues such as climate change, food security and food waste. He talked about Green Eco Technologies’ WasteMaster technology. This on-site commercial food waste solution uses no water or any additives in the process, reducing the amount of waste and repurposing it into a valuable product – as a soil amendment or green energy fuel and further down the pipeline. He further added that they manage food waste disposal from start to finish, thereby diverting food waste from landfill. Additionally, waste is reduced by up to 70%, and residues are reused as soil amendments or as fuel for creating green energy.
Food waste is a major global concern, with millions of tonnes of food lost or wasted every day, says Ceylan Uren. She introduced WasteLab’s off-site and on-site composting solutions, and highlighted how the Dubai-based, impact-driven, female-owned start-up sees waste as a valuable resource and works with individuals and businesses with the goal of It’s about turning every scrap of food into a solution, not a burden on our society and the environment.
The overall goal of the event is to understand the current situation and discuss innovative solutions to address these issues, how big industry can make a difference, and how we can engage more people to raise awareness and contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
recent survey
The event follows a recent survey by Veolia to gauge public opinion on issues such as climate change and pollution. The survey, called the Ecological Transition Barometer, is a global study using a sample that reflects the voices of more than half the world’s population, covering 25 countries in Europe, Asia, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East and Oceania.
It shows that 7 in 10 people globally feel vulnerable to environmental risks, 89% of the world’s population believe climate change is happening and 67% believe change is needed.
In the UAE, the survey paints a positive picture for the country, which has declared 2023 the year of sustainable development and is preparing to host the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) in Dubai. It shows that 10 people in the UAE are willing to accept 95% of the changes brought about by green solutions, provided they pose no health risks, have an affordable economic and cultural cost, and contribute to the country’s food or energy security . — trade arab news agency
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