A nationwide initiative to reduce food waste at all major events across the Emirates has been launched where leftover food will be donated to those in need or repurposed into compost to reduce carbon emissions, officials have told The National.
An agreement was signed at the Abu Dhabi International Food Exhibition, which runs until Thursday at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, between the National Food Loss and Waste Initiative, Ne’ma, and the country’s event organisers. The measures will apply to all major public events from now on.
“We've been working with many of our partners, including the Department of Culture and Tourism. Many of their events have been done in collaboration with Ne’ma to apply the zero-waste-to-landfill framework,” Khuloud Al Nuwais, Secretary General of the Ne'ma steering committee, told The National. “Ne'ma works with its partners to ensure that surplus food is picked up and doesn’t end up in the bin. We also make sure that inedible food waste is composted and turned into fertiliser. This creates circularity while tracking impacts.
“We measure the impact in terms of how many meals are saved from being wasted, how much food is composted, and the environmental benefits, such as reduced carbon emissions resulting from these efforts.”
How to cut down on food waste
The move coincides with the launch of the Ne’ma Climate Conscious UAE Zero Food Waste Event Guide, complete with ten actionable steps to reduce food waste at any event or gathering.
These ten steps are:
- Planning (contemplate ways to reduce and minimise all potential negative environmental impacts)
- Sorting and measuring food waste
- Sustainable sourcing
- People (ensuring the event workforce is well-informed and engaged)
- Reducing food waste in the kitchen
- Influencing behaviour to reduce food waste
- Guest education and awareness for reducing food waste
- Food rescue and redistribution
- Repurposing food waste
- Reporting and communication
The guide will also include case studies of successful events that achieved zero waste, such as the annual Government Summit.
“To track these efforts, we work with innovative companies. For instance, last week’s exhibition featured technology that helps measure these impacts,” Ms Al Nuwais said.
“Companies like Reloop collect waste and use a digital formula and methodology to track the amount of waste collected through their application. They provide this data back to us to measure our progress.”
What will be done with the food?
About 30 to 40 per cent of the food made available at events is ultimately wasted. When this food is still edible, Ms Al Nuwais said, it will be redistributed to those in need.
“We collaborate with organisations like the UAE Food Bank and the Emirates Red Crescent to redirect large quantities of edible food,” she said. “However, when it’s not logistically viable for food banks to act quickly, we use innovative approaches like smart community fridges. These fridges are similar to vending machines but adhere to food safety regulations, which are critical.”
First started in a pilot programme during Ramadan about a decade ago, where volunteers would stock fridges in public places so community workers could find food and drink to break their fast during iftar, the fridges are strategically located across the Emirates to help those most in need.
Ne'ma's plan is to copy this system on a larger, more permanent, scale, so community fridges will be stocked up with food supplies from large-scale events that would otherwise be wasted.
“These fridges are strategically placed in areas like the back of malls and high-labour-concentration areas, such as construction sites,” Ms Al Nuwais said. “Within 45 minutes to an hour, all the meals are taken, with low-income workers lining up to access them.
“In events or buffet-style gatherings, up to 200 surplus meals can be collected and distributed through these fridges. This ensures that no edible food is wasted and reaches those who need it most.”
When the food waste is no longer edible, Ne'ma will work with partners to ensure it is not sent to landfill and instead composted or processed so the disposal is more environmentally friendly, Ms Al Nuwais added.
A national effort
The pledge follows the announcement of a major public awareness drive to tackle food waste, with businesses at the heart of efforts to forge a more sustainable future.
The nationwide campaign, Valuing Our Roots, is the latest step in a long-term strategy to encourage more responsible production and consumption of food, from restaurants to households.
The UAE aims to halve food waste by 2030. Ne'ma estimates that Dh6 billion ($1.63 billion) of food is wasted in the Emirates annually.
“This campaign represents a strategic step towards a comprehensive transformation in societal behaviours, as Ne’ma leads the charge in reawakening a sense of responsibility towards food preservation, grounded in the wisdom of our traditions,” said Mariam Al Mheiri, Head of the International Affairs Office in the Presidential Court and chairwoman of the Ne'ma steering committee.
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
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Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
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Hydrogen: Market potential
Hydrogen has an estimated $11 trillion market potential, according to Bank of America Securities and is expected to generate $2.5tn in direct revenues and $11tn of indirect infrastructure by 2050 as its production increases six-fold.
"We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90 per cent of the universe, effectively and economically,” the bank said in a recent report.
Falling costs of renewable energy and electrolysers used in green hydrogen production is one of the main catalysts for the increasingly bullish sentiment over the element.
The cost of electrolysers used in green hydrogen production has halved over the last five years and will fall to 60 to 90 per cent by the end of the decade, acceding to Haim Israel, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch. A global focus on decarbonisation and sustainability is also a big driver in its development.
The years Ramadan fell in May
Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?
Some facts about bees:
The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer
The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days
A queen bee lives for 3-5 years
This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony
About 20,000 honey bees and one queen populate each hive
Honey is packed with vital vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.
Apart from honey, five other products are royal jelly, the special food bees feed their queen
Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids
Beewax is used to construct the combs. Due to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial elements, it is used in skin treatments
Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive, protects from disease, keeps their home free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts
Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain
Honey, royal jelly, pollen have health enhancing qualities
The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes
Is beekeeping dangerous?
As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.
“The biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures. If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.”
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Essentials
The flights: You can fly from the UAE to Iceland with one stop in Europe with a variety of airlines. Return flights with Emirates from Dubai to Stockholm, then Icelandair to Reykjavik, cost from Dh4,153 return. The whole trip takes 11 hours. British Airways flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Reykjavik, via London, with return flights taking 12 hours and costing from Dh2,490 return, including taxes.
The activities: A half-day Silfra snorkelling trip costs 14,990 Icelandic kronur (Dh544) with Dive.is. Inside the Volcano also takes half a day and costs 42,000 kronur (Dh1,524). The Jokulsarlon small-boat cruise lasts about an hour and costs 9,800 kronur (Dh356). Into the Glacier costs 19,500 kronur (Dh708). It lasts three to four hours.
The tours: It’s often better to book a tailor-made trip through a specialist operator. UK-based Discover the World offers seven nights, self-driving, across the island from £892 (Dh4,505) per person. This includes three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Husafell near Into the Glacier, two nights at Hotel Ranga and two nights at the Icelandair Hotel Klaustur. It includes car rental, plus an iPad with itinerary and tourist information pre-loaded onto it, while activities can be booked as optional extras. More information inspiredbyiceland.com
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Citizenship-by-investment programmes
United Kingdom
The UK offers three programmes for residency. The UK Overseas Business Representative Visa lets you open an overseas branch office of your existing company in the country at no extra investment. For the UK Tier 1 Innovator Visa, you are required to invest £50,000 (Dh238,000) into a business. You can also get a UK Tier 1 Investor Visa if you invest £2 million, £5m or £10m (the higher the investment, the sooner you obtain your permanent residency).
All UK residency visas get approved in 90 to 120 days and are valid for 3 years. After 3 years, the applicant can apply for extension of another 2 years. Once they have lived in the UK for a minimum of 6 months every year, they are eligible to apply for permanent residency (called Indefinite Leave to Remain). After one year of ILR, the applicant can apply for UK passport.
The Caribbean
Depending on the country, the investment amount starts from $100,000 (Dh367,250) and can go up to $400,000 in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take between four to five months to receive a passport.
Portugal
The investment amount ranges from €350,000 to €500,000 (Dh1.5m to Dh2.16m) in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take a maximum of six months to receive a Golden Visa. Applicants can apply for permanent residency after five years and Portuguese citizenship after six years.
“Among European countries with residency programmes, Portugal has been the most popular because it offers the most cost-effective programme to eventually acquire citizenship of the European Union without ever residing in Portugal,” states Veronica Cotdemiey of Citizenship Invest.
Greece
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Greece is €250,000, making it the cheapest real estate residency visa scheme in Europe. You can apply for residency in four months and citizenship after seven years.
Spain
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Spain is €500,000. You can apply for permanent residency after five years and citizenship after 10 years. It is not necessary to live in Spain to retain and renew the residency visa permit.
Cyprus
Cyprus offers the quickest route to citizenship of a European country in only six months. An investment of €2m in real estate is required, making it the highest priced programme in Europe.
Malta
The Malta citizenship by investment programme is lengthy and investors are required to contribute sums as donations to the Maltese government. The applicant must either contribute at least €650,000 to the National Development & Social Fund. Spouses and children are required to contribute €25,000; unmarried children between 18 and 25 and dependent parents must contribute €50,000 each.
The second step is to make an investment in property of at least €350,000 or enter a property rental contract for at least €16,000 per annum for five years. The third step is to invest at least €150,000 in bonds or shares approved by the Maltese government to be kept for at least five years.
Candidates must commit to a minimum physical presence in Malta before citizenship is granted. While you get residency in two months, you can apply for citizenship after a year.
Egypt
A one-year residency permit can be bought if you purchase property in Egypt worth $100,000. A three-year residency is available for those who invest $200,000 in property, and five years for those who purchase property worth $400,000.
Source: Citizenship Invest and Aqua Properties
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Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.
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Bantamweight 56.4kg: Mehdi Eljamari (MAR) beat Abrorbek Madiminbekov (UZB), Split points decision
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