As part of a research project titled Safeguarding Food and Environment in Qatar (SAFE-Q), a research team from Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) will organise two workshops with local stakeholders in
Qatar this month.
One is a supplier workshop, where distribution companies and supermarkets will come together with public officials and NGOs to discuss supply-related aspect of food waste. The other workshop will be conducted with consumers calling for participation of local restaurants, hotels and general consumers to discuss the consumer side of the food waste problem in the country.
GU-Q, together with the Cranfield and Brunel universities in the UK and University of Western Sydney, is the recipient of a research award from the Qatar National Research Fund to explore the issue of waste in food distribution in Qatar. SAFE-Q is a three-year project that will combine a detailed analysis of food supply and demand with an examination of causes of food waste occurring in distribution and changing trends in consumption resulting in waste.
Ultimately, the project seeks to support Qatari efforts to implement Qatar National Vision (QNV) 2030, focusing on the long-term sustainability of the food supply chain, including its green aspects, and the interconnection of these elements with the population’s health as well as the nation’s environmental and economic development, according to a statement.
GU-Q assistant professor of economics, Zeynep Topaloglu, who is the co-lead principal investigator for the project, said preliminary studies on food waste during distribution show that 14% of food is being wasted between its arrival in Qatar or departure from a local farm until it reaches the consumer.
“We have learnt that many products are being destroyed because they expire before reaching the consumers. In this research, we aim to create a clearer picture of the situation and develop policies to reduce this waste in the transportation and storage stages,” she said.
An associate from Al Sulaiteen Agricultural and Industrial Complex reported that consumers in Qatar mainly buy food in bulk and some of the food bought in large boxes is inevitably wasted due to
over-purchasing.
Dr Emel Aktas from Cranfield University stressed that one of the aims of the SAFE-Q project is to raise awareness of the amount and impact of food waste and ways to reduce or avoid it, related to the social development pillar of QNV 2030.
Relevant stakeholders have been invited to participate in the workshops and can register their interest by calling 44578579.
The workshop for suppliers will take place from 9.30am to 1pm on May 24, while the consumer workshop will be held from 9.30am to 1pm on May 25 at the Georgetown University campus in Education City.