Arab News Japan

ABU DHABI: Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE) and ne’ma launched an insightful diary program focused on food loss and waste for Abu Dhabi’s Yasmina British Academy’s Year 7 students. 

JICE is an organization focused on strengthening international relations between Japan and other countries by developing international communities through various activities. 

Ne’ma is an initiative dedicated to reducing food loss and waste in the United Arab Emirates through inspiring sustainable practices in the food industry, schools, and households to create a positive impact. 

The collaboration between JICE and ne’ma encouraged students to record and analyze the amount of food they wasted in the span of seven days in order to raise their awareness about food loss. The program fostered a sense of responsibility within the students and provided valuable insights into the patterns and causes of food waste in their daily lives. 

Throughout the seven days, the students documented the types and quantities of food they discarded daily by photographing the food waste. 

The award ceremony showed that the total amount of food waste for all participants was around 10 kilograms. Mariam AlMheiri, the Minister of Climate Change and Environment, and Akio Isomata, Ambassador of Japan to the UAE, participated in the ceremony.

Khuloud Hasan Al Nuwais, Committee Secretary General at ne’ma, highlighted the significance of the initiative, saying, “The program is designed to instill a sense of responsibility towards sustainable living from a young age. By partnering with JICE, we are expanding the reach of this impactful program and fostering a culture of mindful consumption among the youth.”

Tokuya Kanamori, Managing Director at the JICE Abu Dhabi Office, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “At JICE, we believe in the power of education and awareness to drive positive change. Collaborating with ne’ma on this innovative program aligns with our commitment to sustainable practices and the development of environmentally conscious individuals.”

Sara AlAmeri, one of the participating students, reflected on the program, saying, “It was a great experience to learn the importance of reducing food waste. Over the course of seven days, I learned how to reduce food waste by ordering less and only for what you can consume. It certainly increased conversation on food waste among my family.”

Sultan Aadel Alhammadi, another participating student, described the program as an “eye-opening experience” for him and his family as it prompted his family to actively reduce their food waste.