The Ministry of Agriculture and WFP launch two new interventions under the "No Food Waste" initiative

These initiatives are in alignment with the National Food Security Strategy (2021-2030) and aim to establish efficient food waste management practices while introducing innovative solutions to address this growing challenge.

In the presence of His Excellency Eng. Khaled Al-Hanifat, the Minister of Agriculture and Head of the National Committee for Food Security, WFP signed two crucial agreements today to support the implementation of two initiatives.

The first initiative is a Hackathon for Food Waste Solutions in partnership with cewas, a Swiss organization renowned for promoting sustainable business ideas and innovative solutions. This hackathon will invite participation from small and medium enterprises, individuals, and universities in Jordan. Participants will receive essential support to nurture and scale-up their innovative ideas, ultimately contributing to the reduction of food waste.

The second initiative, 'Enhancing Food Waste Management,' involves a partnership with the Basmat Al-Hayat Association. This association is responsible for collecting surplus food from hotels and redistributing it to communities in need. The partnership aims to test a number of support activities to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of this initiative.

WFP and the Ministry of Agriculture are working on the development of an evidence-based approach to create an enabling umbrella for food waste management initiatives in Jordan, aiming to improve their efficiency and sustainability. Following an initial assessment, WFP has identified 15 local initiatives and conducted an analysis of the challenges they face. The proposed umbrella system will promote coordination and synergy among these initiatives.

H.E. Eng. Khaled Al-Hanifat highlighted the importance of His Majesty King Abdullah II speech at the United Nations, which touched on the human conscience, hunger, and the priority to achieve food security. He also emphasized His Majesty's meeting with the WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain. The minister reaffirmed the ministry's commitment to enhancing food security in alignment with the National Food Security Strategy and Economic Modernization Vision. He stressed the significance of addressing food waste as a significant challenge, especially considering Jordan's limited resources, and encouraged youth participation in finding creative solutions.

WFP Representative and Country Director in Jordan, Alberto Correia Mendes, expressed WFP's unwavering commitment to continue supporting the Jordanian government in operationalizing the National Food Security Strategy, and food waste reduction stands as one of the pivotal pillars within this strategy. He highlighted WFP's multifaceted approach, encompassing research, recommendations, and initiatives that seamlessly align with national priorities and the overarching goal of achieving efficient and sustainable food systems.

Moreover, WFP and the Ministry of Agriculture are preparing to launch a food waste awareness campaign. This campaign will draw upon insights from a qualitative study conducted by WFP, examining the social and economic factors contributing to food waste across various demographics in Jordan.

Jordan's food waste is estimated to be approximately 93 kilograms per person per year, equivalent to 955,000 tons of food. This staggering figure could provide sustenance for approximately 1.5 million people for an entire year. Food waste has direct negative economic, environmental, and social consequences, emphasizing its significance as a challenge that needs to be addressed to preserve precious natural resources.