Latest news with #2024FoodWasteIndexReport
Kuwait Times
13-05-2025
- Business
- Kuwait Times
KU lecture highlights strategic food security challenges in GCC
By Chrsitine Susan Shine KUWAIT: The College of Life Sciences at Kuwait University (KU) hosted a pivotal lecture on Monday addressing strategic priorities for food security across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The event featured keynote speaker Gary Burniske, Managing Director of the Center for Global Food Security at Purdue University, USA and a leading expert in sustainable agriculture, resource management and international development. Burniske underscored the vital role of research and education in enhancing agricultural productivity. 'Without strong research and education, agricultural productivity cannot improve,' he stated, calling on academic institutions to lead policy development based on scientific evidence and to empower local producers through knowledge and innovation. Citing the United Nations Environment Program's 2024 Food Waste Index Report, Burniske expressed concern over the region's food wastage, noting that the GCC discarded approximately 1.3 million tons of food in 2022—translating into financial losses estimated between $4 to $7 billion. He further noted a significant data gap in countries such as Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain. Gary Burniske In his address, Burniske stressed the urgency of strengthening local food production to achieve food sovereignty. He advocated for controlled-environment agriculture systems to overcome Kuwait's natural limitations, including scarce water resources, poor soil quality, and environmental degradation. 'Food security is a difficult issue here,' he remarked, pointing out that the GCC imports nearly 85 percent of its food. 'This leaves the region vulnerable to supply chain disruptions, as witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic when key exporting countries imposed export restrictions on essential staples like rice.' Referencing a report by the Economist Intelligence Unit, Burniske noted that Kuwait ranked second in the GCC in food import dependency, with imports reaching $5.3 billion in 2020. He encouraged investment in culturally appropriate crops and more efficient livestock practices. 'Poultry presents a promising option—it offers a favorable feed-to-weight ratio, rapid growth, and is a more water-efficient and healthier alternative to beef,' he said. Concluding his presentation, Burniske appealed to Kuwait University to expand its academic focus on agriculture. 'I hope Kuwait University will consider establishing a College of Agriculture—or at least an Agronomy Department—to support these critical pillars of food security,' he urged. The event underscored the growing need for regional collaboration, data-driven strategies, and institutional support to address the multifaceted challenges of food security in the Gulf.
African Manager
13-03-2025
- Health
- African Manager
113,000 tons of bread is thrown away in Tunisia every year!
Bread consumption in Tunisia sees a significant increase during the month of Ramadan, inevitably exacerbating the problem of food waste. Each year, approximately 113,000 tons of bread are thrown away, equivalent to 42 kilograms per household, according to Chokri Ben Rejeb, Director General of the National Institute of Consumption (INC). He made these remarks on Mosaïque FM. He further clarified that this figure translates to 800 grams of bread wasted per household every week. Ben Rejeb also noted that food waste accounts for about 5% of Tunisian households' food expenditures, with bread leading the list at 16%, followed by grain and vegetables. He added that this phenomenon of waste intensifies particularly during Ramadan and affects not only prepared meals but also other food products. Milk and dairy products On another note, Chokri Ben Rejeb revealed that 60% of dairy products collected by centers are sent to centralized facilities, while 35 to 40% are directed to traditional factories, often lacking adequate health standards. This poses a risk of transmitting animal diseases to humans, such as tuberculosis. He recommended that all factories in this sector adopt milk pasteurization machines, which ensure moderate heat treatment capable of killing harmful germs at temperatures between 65 and 70 degrees Celsius. National strategy against food waste A national strategy to combat food waste will be launched by September 2025, initiated by the National Institute of Consumption (INC) in collaboration with relevant ministries (Commerce, Agriculture, and Industry). This strategy will focus on raising awareness about the socio-economic and environmental impacts of food waste, involving all stakeholders (consumers, manufacturers, hoteliers, restaurateurs, civil society, etc.) in the fight against this phenomenon, integrating food waste prevention into educational programs, and establishing a dedicated regulatory framework. The strategy will be accompanied by an action plan outlining the responsibilities of each party, as detailed during an event organized in Tunis by the INC in collaboration with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). It is worth noting that food waste among Tunisian households amounted to 5% of food expenditures, reaching 910 million dinars in 2021 alone. The main wasted foods are bread (16% of consumed quantities), grain products (10%), and vegetables (7%). Food waste is a major challenge globally, as well as nationally, particularly in Tunisia, where significant amounts of food are lost or wasted at every stage of the food value chain. Additionally, Tunisia ranks first in food waste in the Maghreb region and second in the Arab world, with a rate of 172 kg of food wasted per person annually, according to the 2024 Food Waste Index Report published by the United Nations Environment Program.
