Latest news with #ne'ma's
Zawya
08-04-2025
- General
- Zawya
Ne'ma's Ramadan campaign drives major impact in food rescue and redistribution
25,000 Family Iftar Boxes provided to families and individuals Over 26,000 meals distributed via the ne'ma Smart Community Fridges Approximately 656,500 kilograms of CO₂e emissions were avoided UAE: ne'ma, the UAE National Food Loss and Waste Initiative has successfully concluded its 'Valuing Our Roots' campaign for Ramadan 2025, delivering a significant impact on food rescue, redistribution, and sustainability efforts nationwide. As part of the UAE's commitment to reducing food loss and waste by 50 percent by 2030, ne'ma's Ramadan initiatives mobilized key partners, volunteers, and hospitality sector stakeholders to rescue and redistribute high-quality surplus food to those in need. Through Family Iftar Boxes, Smart Community Fridges, and the large-scale One Million Surplus Meals initiative, ne'ma prevented edible food from going to waste while reinforcing the values of generosity and mindful consumption during the holy month. The success of this year's campaign was made possible through strong collaboration across government, real estate, food production and distribution, logistics, retail, and hospitality sectors. More than 23 partners played a critical role in supporting ne'ma's food rescue efforts, helping to ensure surplus food reached individuals and families in need. This effort was further amplified by over 1,300 volunteers, who dedicated 21,000 hours to food collection, packing, and distribution. The Family Iftar Boxes initiative successfully rescued nearly 250,000 kilograms of fresh surplus produce and non-perishable items, providing essential food supplies to over 8,800 low-income families across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Al Dhafra, Sharjah, Ajman, and Ras Al Khaimah. A total of 25,000 ne'ma Iftar boxes were distributed, each designed to sustain a family of four for a week. In addition to supporting families, the initiative contributed to sustainability efforts by preventing approximately 630,000 kilograms of CO₂e emissions and composting 4,000 kilograms of food waste to create 800 kilograms of organic compost to support local farming. The ne'ma Smart Community Fridges initiative played a critical role in repurposing surplus meals from Iftar buffets, rescuing over 26,000 meals, amounting to 10,400 kilograms of food. These efforts provided nutritious meals to low-income individuals across Abu Dhabi and Dubai while preventing an additional 26,500 kilograms of CO₂e emissions. The network of 10 community fridges in Abu Dhabi and Dubai was supported by 37 participating hotels and key stakeholders from the hospitality and food service sectors. Khuloud Hassan Al Nuwais, Chief Sustainability Officer of the Emirates Foundation and ne'ma's Committee Secretary General, said: 'Expanding ne'ma's food rescue program this Ramadan allowed us to reach more communities across the UAE. The success of these initiatives highlights how meaningful collaboration between stakeholders can be transformative. Ramadan demonstrates the power of generosity and mindful consumption, but this momentum shouldn't be limited to one month—this model of food rescue and redistribution can become part of everyday life in the UAE. By embedding these practices year-round, we can make a lasting impact in reducing food loss and closing the loop on food insecurity.' H.E. Saleh Mohammed Algeziry, Director General of Tourism, Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, said: "At DCT Abu Dhabi, we take pride in our role to enrich the community with all we do, while sharing Abu Dhabi with the world. The UAE National Food Loss and Waste Initiative embodies our values as Abu Dhabi is a place where authentic Emirati hospitality is extended to all. We are proud to partner with ne'ma in showcasing the warmth of our culture, through the timeless tradition of generosity." H.E. Salmeen Al Ameri, Chief Executive Officer of Silal, said: 'Silal is committed to supporting initiatives that promote sustainability and reduce food waste. Our partnership with ne'ma in its food rescue program for the second year is a testament to our shared mission to make a positive impact on communities and the environment. By working together, we are not only giving back to the community during the holy month but also contributing to the UAE's long-term goal of halving food loss and waste by 2030. We are proud to be a key contributor to this transformative initiative, and we look forward to continuing our efforts to create a more sustainable and responsible food system for the future." The Valuing Our Roots campaign reflects the UAE's national priorities and aligns with the Year of Community by bringing together key stakeholders to reduce food waste and promote responsible consumption. As ne'ma continues to drive systemic change, it is setting the foundation for long-term, data-driven solutions that not only tackle food insecurity but also support the UAE's efforts to become a nation where no food is wasted. This underscores the power of collaboration in creating widespread impact, driving tangible shifts in resource management, and shaping more mindful consumption behaviors. -Ends- About ne'ma ne'ma – the National Food Loss and Waste Initiative, is a response to the call to action by the President of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to reduce food waste, encourage individual and social responsibility, and promote sustainable practices across the food value chain. Established in 2022, ne'ma aims to address overproduction and overconsumption and build new standards that can contribute to the reduction of food loss and food waste, reconnecting with the country's deep-rooted traditional values of social responsibility and mindful stewardship of national resources. For more information, please visit:
Al Etihad
13-03-2025
- General
- Al Etihad
Helping hands in action: UAE's volunteering spirit shines through ne'ma's Iftar Box Packing initiative
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI) ne'ma, the UAE's National Food Loss and Waste Initiative, on Thursday hosted an iftar box packing event at its offices in Al Qana, where volunteers, partners and community members joined hands to support its expanding Food Rescue Programme. The event saw 100 volunteers, including staff, corporate partners, and the public, coming together to pack iftar boxes for distribution to low-income beneficiaries. The Iftar Box Packing Initiative is part of ne'ma's broader Valuing Our Roots campaign for Ramadan 2025, which reinforces the importance of responsible consumption, sustainability and community-driven action. ne'ma's Food Rescue Programme works to ensure that surplus food is safely redistributed rather than wasted, engaging key stakeholders across the food value system - including the hospitality sector, food producers and distributors - to divert food and deliver it to those in need. ne'ma is a collaborative effort with the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, the Emirates Foundation and many other stakeholders across the nation to build a network of trusted food loss and waste champions in the UAE, according to its website. Speaking to Aletihad, Khuloud Hassan Al Nuwais, Chief Sustainability Officer at the Emirates Foundation and Secretary General of Ne'ma's Committee, said: "At the heart of ne'ma work is preserving existing food supplies so they are not wasted and are redirected to those in need. Many companies, especially during Ramadan, the month of giving, wish to donate their surplus to us. We collaborate with social benefit and charitable organisations, such as the Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, through which we deliver the products you saw today, as well as ne'ma iftar boxes to needy families. What also distinguishes us this year is that we have expanded the scope of the initiative. We are now present in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Al Dhafra, Bani Yas, Sharjah, and Al Falah in Abu Dhabi." The campaign saw increased distribution this year and plans to expand to more emirates in the future. A key attribute of its success is the strong collaboration with volunteers from various companies, highlighting the community's spirit of giving. Al Nuwais added: "Today, perhaps the reason for the initiative's success is the community's engagement this year. The spirit of volunteering you saw today is what sets this initiative apart and highlights how people are united in their desire to deliver food to needy families or individuals. This year, the collaboration between the ne'ma initiative and the Takatof has made a positive difference, contributing back to the community with a positive spirit. Whatever is delivered will reach the people. Of course, the primary goal of the ne'ma initiative is to reduce food waste, which aligns with the country's food security strategy and reflects the vision of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to conserve our resources and rationalise consumption." Takatof is a voluntary social programme designed by the Emirates Foundation to foster a culture of volunteering in the UAE. Mohamed Al Hosani, Director of Programmes at the Emirates Foundation, said the Iftar Box Packing Initiative initiative has more than 400 volunteers across the country. " Their main task includes collecting surplus food and distributing it to those in need in various parts of the country, as well as providing food to those in need elsewhere. We deliver the boxes through our partners, whom we thank," Al Hosani told Aletihad. "Today, we have many partners and volunteers, mostly employees who have the opportunity to volunteer in this field, and the demand is very high. The challenge we face is that the number of volunteers exceeds the available opportunities," he added. Al Hosani stressed that the culture of volunteering has grown significantly in the UAE, with a noticeable rise in participation in recent years. Many individuals are actively engaging in volunteer efforts, particularly in helping families in need. Dr. Bushra Al Ghailani, a volunteer participating in packing ne'ma iftar boxes, told Aletihad: "This year, the Year of the Community, we are eager to serve. The initiative aims to preserve blessings and reduce food waste by distributing it to needy families." "Such initiatives remind us of our responsibility to society, especially during Ramadan. I encourage everyone to participate and involve their families as it is a small service we offer in return to the state and society," She added. Another volunteer, Mosab Hassan shared his experience with Aletihad: "Volunteering is not new to me. I participated last year during Ramadan with the Emirates Red Crescent. These experiences highlight our company's commitment to giving back to the community. With over 10 years of volunteering, I find joy in helping others and making their lives easier. It is a beautiful sight to see so many people unite for a noble cause."
Gulf Today
07-03-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
ne'ma extends ‘Valuing Our Roots' Campaign in Ramadan
ne'ma, the UAE National Food Loss and Waste Initiative, has extended its 2025 Ramadan campaign, Valuing Our Roots, reinforcing the importance of responsible consumption, sustainability, and community-driven action during the Holy Month of Ramdan. ne'ma's campaign calls on individuals, families, and businesses to make intentional choices when shopping, cooking, sharing, and preparing for large gatherings. This approach upholds the values of reflection, gratitude, and balance while promoting the mindful use of resources during Ramadan. Through community-driven initiatives, the campaign highlights food rescue, redistribution, and waste reduction, aligning with the UAE's goal to cut food loss and waste by 50 per cent by 2030. ne'ma continues to collaborate with key partners across the food ecosystem to promote mindfulness, ensuring surplus food is rescued and redistributed effectively. A key campaign initiative is ne'ma's sponsorship of the One Million Surplus Meals, a large-scale effort to recover and distribute untouched surplus food in collaboration with the UAE Food Bank and Reloop, and involving hotels, restaurants, and catering services companies (HORECA). The initiative also incorporates food waste recycling, with inedible food waste collected for composting, supporting a circular economy approach. The programme will engage more than 75 hotels across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ras Al Khaimah, with structured data collection to measure its impact on food waste reduction. During Ramadan, ne'ma is also scaling up Community Smart Fridges, working with the HORECA sector and tech startups, to place fridges in high-demand areas, ensuring surplus food is safely redistributed. The fridges will be stocked with freshly prepared meals and available in several locations across Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The initiative includes training for kitchen and hospitality staff on standardised meal packaging, and a structured collection and distribution system to ensure efficiency and safety. The ne'ma Family Iftar Box programme, in partnership with Takatof, focuses on rescuing surplus food from food distributors, retailers, and farmers. Volunteers will pack and distribute these food boxes across Abu Dhabi, Al Dhafra, Al Ain, Sharjah, and Ras Al Khaimah, ensuring that high-quality surplus food reaches families in need instead of going to waste. Khuloud Hassan Al Nuwais, Chief Sustainability Officer of the Emirates Foundation, and ne'ma's Committee Secretary-General, said, 'Ramadan is a time of generosity, gratitude, and shared responsibility. With Valuing Our Roots, we are taking real action to rescue food, reduce waste, and ensure that resources are used responsibly. By making mindful choices-when we shop, cook, share, and celebrate-we can honor our traditions while also protecting our future. Through collective action, we can move closer to becoming a nation where no food is wasted.' The new initiative builds on the success of the 'Count Your ne'ma' (Count Your Blessings), campaign launched last year, which adopted a practical approach to saving food and redistributing it, in addition to ongoing efforts to reduce waste. By integrating data-driven strategies, expanding partnerships, and engaging volunteers, the 'Valuing Our Roots' campaign aims to create long-term behavioural change and further strengthen the UAE's leadership in food sustainability. The campaign also represents a unified effort to prevent food from reaching landfills during Ramadan and beyond. In line with the UAE's Year of Community, the campaign builds on last year's Count Your Blessings initiative by taking an action-oriented approach to food rescue, redistribution, and waste reduction efforts. Earlier, His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, received the team behind the 'ne'ma' initiative, which aims to reduce food loss and waste while promoting sustainable food consumption in the country. During the meeting at Qasr Al Watan, His Highness Sheikh Mansour listened to a detailed explanation from the team about the initiative's objectives and key areas of focus, including data analysis, measuring food loss and waste, community awareness, driving behavioural change and policy development.
Zawya
05-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Ne'ma extends 'Valuing Our Roots' campaign in Ramadan
Abu Dhabi, UAE - ne'ma, the UAE National Food Loss and Waste Initiative, has extended its 2025 Ramadan campaign, Valuing Our Roots, reinforcing the importance of responsible consumption, sustainability, and community-driven action during the holy month of Ramdan. ne'ma's campaign calls on individuals, families, and businesses to make intentional choices when shopping, cooking, sharing, and preparing for large gatherings. By doing so, we honor the enduring traditions of reflection, gratitude, balance, and making mindful use of resources during Ramadan. Through community-driven initiatives, the campaign emphasizes food rescue, redistribution, and waste reduction, supporting the UAE's goal to reduce food loss and waste by 50 percent by 2030. ne'ma continues to collaborate with key partners across the food ecosystem to promote mindfulness, ensuring surplus food is rescued and redistributed effectively. A key campaign initiative is ne'ma's sponsorship of the One Million Surplus Meals, a large-scale effort to recover and distribute untouched surplus food in collaboration with the UAE Food Bank and Reloop, and involving hotels, restaurants, and catering services companies (HORECA). The initiative also incorporates food waste recycling, with inedible food waste collected for composting, supporting a circular economy approach. The program will engage more than 75 hotels across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ras Al Khaimah, with structured data collection to measure its impact on food waste reduction. During Ramadan, ne'ma is also scaling up Community Smart Fridges, working with the HORECA sector and tech startups, to place fridges in high-demand areas, ensuring surplus food is safely redistributed. The fridges will be stocked with freshly prepared meals and available in several locations across Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The initiative includes training for kitchen and hospitality staff on standardized meal packaging, and a structured collection and distribution system to ensure efficiency and safety. The ne'ma Family Iftar Box program, in partnership with Takatof, focuses on rescuing surplus food from food distributors, retailers, and farmers. Volunteers will pack and distribute these food boxes across Abu Dhabi, Al Dhafra, Al Ain, Sharjah, and Ras Al Khaimah, ensuring that high-quality surplus food reaches families in need instead of going to waste. Each box will contain fresh produce, staple grains, protein sources, canned goods, and other essential items. This initiative also offers a meaningful corporate social responsibility (CSR) opportunity, allowing businesses to participate through food donations, sponsorships, and corporate volunteering. Khuloud Hassan Al Nuwais, Chief Sustainability Officer of the Emirates Foundation, and ne'ma's Committee Secretary General, said: "Ramadan is a time of generosity, gratitude, and shared responsibility. With Valuing Our Roots, we are taking real action to rescue food, reduce waste, and ensure that resources are used responsibly. By making mindful choices—when we shop, cook, share, and celebrate—we can honor our traditions while also protecting our future. Through collective action, we can move closer to becoming a nation where no food is wasted." The new initiative builds on the success of the "Count Your ne'ma" (Count Your Blessings), campaign launched last year, which adopted a practical approach to saving food and redistributing it, in addition to ongoing efforts to reduce waste. By integrating data-driven strategies, expanding partnerships, and engaging volunteers, the "Valuing Our Roots" campaign aims to create long-term behavioral change and further strengthen the UAE's leadership in food sustainability. The campaign also represents a unified effort to prevent food from reaching landfills during Ramadan and beyond. In line with the UAE's Year of Community, the campaign builds on last year's Count Your Blessings initiative by taking an action-oriented approach to food rescue, redistribution, and waste reduction efforts. By integrating data-driven strategies, expanding partnerships, and mobilizing volunteers, Valuing Our Roots aims to create long-term behavioral change and strengthen the UAE's leadership in food sustainability. The campaign represents a united effort to work toward a Zero Food Waste to Landfill goal during Ramadan and beyond. About ne'ma ne'ma – the National Food Loss and Waste Initiative, is a response to the call to action by the President of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to reduce food waste, encourage individual and social responsibility, and promote sustainable practices across the food value chain. Established in 2022, ne'ma aims to address overproduction and overconsumption and build new standards that can contribute to the reduction of food loss and food waste, reconnecting with the country's deep-rooted traditional values of social responsibility and mindful stewardship of national resources.
Hi Dubai
05-03-2025
- Business
- Hi Dubai
ne'ma Extends 'Valuing Our Roots' Campaign in Ramadan
ne'ma, the UAE's National Food Loss and Waste Initiative, has announced the extension of its 2025 Ramadan campaign, "Valuing Our Roots." The initiative aims to encourage responsible consumption, sustainability, and community-driven action throughout the Holy Month of Ramadan. The campaign calls on individuals, families, and businesses to make intentional choices in shopping, cooking, and preparing for large gatherings, reflecting the values of gratitude and balance. Its core objective is to reduce food waste, aligning with the UAE's goal of cutting food loss and waste by 50% by 2030. A key initiative within the campaign is ne'ma's sponsorship of the "One Million Surplus Meals" project. This large-scale effort works in collaboration with the UAE Food Bank and Reloop, alongside hotels, restaurants, and catering services, to recover and redistribute surplus food. The program also involves food waste recycling, with inedible waste composted to support a circular economy. The initiative will see over 75 hotels across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ras Al Khaimah participating, with data collection to track its impact on food waste reduction. ne'ma is also scaling up its Community Smart Fridges program, in partnership with the HORECA sector and tech startups, to redistribute surplus food in high-demand areas. In addition, the ne'ma Family Iftar Box program, in collaboration with Takatof, will ensure rescued surplus food reaches families in need across various regions. Khuloud Hassan Al Nuwais, Chief Sustainability Officer of the Emirates Foundation, emphasized the collective responsibility during Ramadan, stating, "Through mindful choices and collective action, we can move closer to becoming a nation where no food is wasted." The campaign builds on the success of last year's "Count Your Blessings" initiative and aims to create lasting behavioral change in food sustainability. News Source: Emirates News Agency
