Tokyo: ne"ma, the UAE's National Food Loss and Waste Initiative, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE) to enhance international collaboration focused on reducing food loss and waste. This agreement aligns with the World Food Day 2024 theme, "Right to foods for a better life and a better future." According to Emirates News Agency, the MoU was signed during a high-profile UAE delegation visit to Japan, including representatives from the Ministry of Economy, the Presidential Court, Emirates Foundation, and Tadweer Group. The ceremony was attended by Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, the UAE Minister of Economy. The partnership aims to support ne"ma's goal of reducing food loss and waste by 50% by 2030, in alignment with both the UN Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 and the UAE's National Food Security Strategy 2051. This MoU builds on previous collaborations between ne"ma and JICE. In 2023, they initiated "The ne"ma 7 Days Diary", an educational program where Abu Dhabi Year-7 students tracked their daily food waste for a week. This initiative helped raise awareness among the youth about food waste and encouraged responsible behaviors. Khuloud Hasan Al Nuwais, Chief Sustainability Officer of Emirates Foundation and Secretary-General of the ne"ma Committee, emphasized the importance of innovative educational approaches and technologies in achieving these goals. She highlighted that JICE's expertise in food waste management is crucial for exchanging best practices and aligning with national strategies to effectively tackle this global challenge. Yoshida Kozo, President of JICE, expressed enthusiasm about formalizing their partnership through the MoU, which he believes will enhance the capacity of both nations to manage food waste sustainably. He noted that sharing Japan's expertise with the UAE could significantly aid in meeting its ambitious food reduction targets. The visit also included strategic meetings with various Japanese entities to enhance the sust ainability and efficiency of ne"ma initiatives. Ali Al Dhaheri, CEO of Tadweer Group, shared his insights from the visit, noting the introduction to advanced sustainable practices and the impact of these new partnerships on achieving waste management goals in Abu Dhabi. The delegation's itinerary also featured planned visits to significant locations like the Toyosu Market and Second Harvest Japan Food Bank to study their food waste reduction strategies. These interactions are part of a broader strategy to promote a circular economy in the UAE, focusing on waste reduction, resource recovery, and sustainable development.