Picture for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

Large quantities of food waste in the Middle East are directly linked to climate change, according to top UN officials speaking at a conference in Dubai on Thursday. They stated that employees in the hospitality business could function as "agents of change" in persuading people to change their behavior. "Recent estimates indicate that the average per capita food waste in the UAE is 2.7 kilos per day. And this is a staggering amount as it is among the world's highest," Dena Assaf, UN resident co-ordinator for the UAE, said at the event at Atlantis, The Palm. Assaf was speaking in Dubai at a United Nations Environment Programme event. It was organized on the third International Day for Food Waste and Loss to urge a reduction in food waste. This is observed on September 29 all across the world. This year, the UNEP regional office started the second phase of the ''Recipe of Change'Change' campaign, inviting the domestic hospitality industry to raise awareness about food waste's negative environmental impact. The first phase was designed to target households. Ten chefs from the West Asia region took part, teaching people about sustainable cuisine and food storage methods. The second phase of the "Recipe of Change" campaign aimed to promote behavioral change in individuals through the hotel industry. The campaign's slogan, "Stop Food Waste! For the People," aims to shed light on food waste and its environmental impact. Sami Dimassi, UNEP representative and regional director for West Asia said, "There was a time when people were hesitant to bring leftovers from restaurants. It is now fashionable. Ordering lesser servings and avoiding waste should also become popular. That's what we're going for." Dimassi believes simple measures such as keeping a bag in the room and a note requesting guests to pack leftover fruits will help prevent food waste. "It is the small steps that make the big difference. No single person or entity can bring about a change. It has to be a collective effort." Leading hotel chains committed to reducing food waste in their restaurants at an event held at Atlantis, The Palm. BKM/ Expat Media
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