Qatar to conduct comprehensive study to address food waste

Project also includes finding solutions to curb the phenomenon

NT Bureau

Doha: Qatar is planning to conduct a study to determine the rate of food waste in the country as part of efforts to curb and eliminate the practice, Al Raya reports. 

The study comes as part of a broader project to address the issue of food waste in the country.

The study will be conducted by the Ministry of Municipality in cooperation with Qatar University and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), Director of the Food Security Department at the Ministry of Municipality, Dr. Masoud Jarallah Al Marri has said on the sidelines of the eleventh edition of the AgriteQ 2024 currently being held at the Expo 2023.

The study, which will be comprehensive, will cover various aspects of food waste and identify locations where food is wasted most and also the quantities, whether at production, storage, the consumer, or at households, and what is the type of food where there is significant wastage. 

Al Marri pointed out that the study will not be limited to food waste only, but will also include agricultural loss, which is related to practices before the commodity reaches the consumer. 

He noted that the scope of the study will also include suggesting solutions to address the issue, whether at the awareness level, like creating awareness among various sections of the society including school students, or implementing actions at the service providers’ level, or practices at the consumer level or within homes. 

The study is expected to take a year and a half.

Speaking about the launch of the study, he said: “We are in the phase of awarding the project to Qatar University. Necessary paper work is being done which is expected to complete within two months.”

The issue of food waste assumes significance as Ramadan is approaching.  

Regarding the new national strategy for food security 2024-2030, which will be implemented from April, Dr. Al Marri confirmed that the strategy is based on a set of elements to achieve sustainability, rely on modern technologies and innovation in the agricultural sector, and increase agricultural production during the summer. 

Regarding the most notable achievements in terms of self-sufficiency in meat production, vegetables, fish, eggs, and fodder, Dr. Al-Marri said: “The rates of self-sufficiency in basic food commodities have witnessed a noticeable improvement. This is largely due to enhancing local production as one of the strategic goals, and because it is one of the basic elements on which the National Food Security Strategy 2018-2023 is working, which aims to increase local production of highly perishable agricultural food commodities to avoid disruption in supply chains and achieve food security. “