The Minister of Agriculture and Vice Chairman of the Supreme Council for Food Security, Saeb Khreissat, affirmed that reducing food waste has become a national priority in Jordan. This comes amid accelerating regional and international challenges that place pressure on supply chains and increase shipping and production costs.
اضافة اعلان
On the occasion of the International Day of Zero Waste, Khreissat stated that Jordan is moving forward with enhancing the efficiency of food resource management. He noted that these efforts align with national directives to bolster food security and sustainability.
Key Findings of the National Food Waste Study (2024–2025)
The Minister highlighted results from a study conducted in cooperation with the Department of Statistics and the World Food Programme (WFP):
Household Sector: The largest source of waste, with an average per capita waste of 81.3 kg annually—enough to feed another person for nearly 28 days.
National Impact: Total annual food waste reaches approximately one million tons, a quantity sufficient to feed nearly one million people for an entire year.
Wasted Commodities: Vegetables account for 40.2% and fruits for 32.4% of total wasted food, driven largely by consumption patterns and purchasing habits.
Commercial & Institutional Waste:
Restaurants: ~12,291 tons annually (primarily during preparation).
Hotels: ~3,739 tons annually (primarily during serving).
Hospitals: ~1,302 tons annually, with the public sector accounting for the majority.
Environmental and Economic Implications
Khreissat emphasized that food waste is not merely a loss of food but an indirect waste of limited resources, specifically water and energy. In a water-scarce country like Jordan, every wasted meal represents a significant depletion of water and energy used in farming, transport, and refrigeration. Reducing waste is essential for lowering production costs, enhancing supply chain resilience, and reducing carbon emissions.
National Initiatives and Future Plans
The Supreme Council for Food Security is leading integrated efforts, most notably the national campaign "Appreciate It, Don't Waste It" (Qaddirha Wala Tihdirha), aimed at shifting consumer behavior. Current initiatives include:
Establishing the first national baseline for measuring food waste.
Launching the "Innovation Hackathon to Reduce Food Waste" and providing funding grants for innovative solutions.
Developing national policies and monitoring systems to include the retail and food industry sectors.
The Minister concluded by calling on citizens and institutions to adopt responsible consumption practices, such as better meal planning and improved storage, noting that approximately 25% of crops are lost during production and supply chain stages.
