Amman:Jordan is advancing a national strategy to reduce food loss and waste after a study revealed an average household food waste of 81.3 kilograms per person annually, totaling approximately one million tonnes nationwide each year, according to Minister of Agriculture Saeb Khreisat.
According to Jordan News Agency, the strategy emphasizes three key areas: building reliable national data for policymaking, promoting behavioral and social change, and establishing an institutional framework to sustain and coordinate national efforts. These remarks were made by Khreisat, who also serves as Deputy Chairman of the Higher Council for Food Security, during the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste.
The national study, conducted by the Higher Council for Food Security, the Department of Statistics, and the World Food Program (WFP), provides Jordan's first baseline for measuring food waste. It encompasses households, restaurants, hotels, and hospitals, leading to the creation of the country's first national household food-waste indicator.
Khreisat highlighted that food waste figures reflect the use of water, energy, labor, financial resources, and other inputs required to produce, import, process, transport, store, and distribute food. The council is expanding data collection to include retail outlets and other sectors to pinpoint where food loss and waste occur and develop evidence-based interventions.
Efforts are coordinated through the Food Loss and Waste Committee under the Higher Council for Food Security, in collaboration with national institutions and relevant partners. Khreisat emphasized that reducing food loss and waste necessitates action across the entire supply chain, from production to household consumption.
Given Jordan's limited water resources, climate pressures, and economic challenges, improving food and resource use efficiency is crucial. The national "Appreciate It, Don't Waste It" campaign, implemented in partnership with the WFP, aims to raise public awareness and encourage more responsible consumption practices.
WFP Representative and Country Director in Jordan, Antonella D'Aprile, stated that reducing food waste supports food security, sustainability, and resilience. The WFP collaborates with the council and national institutions to transform data into practical measures and foster behavioral change.
Additionally, a specialized federation for food loss and waste management was established this year to coordinate civil society initiatives in the field. This federation unites associations across Jordan working on food surplus, waste reduction, and related activities. The council and the federation are developing a cooperation framework to coordinate initiatives and bolster the role of civil society in national food-security efforts.