Istanbul: The State of Qatar participated in the High-Level Ministerial Session of the Zero Waste Forum 2026 in Istanbul, Türkiye, reaffirming its commitment to reducing food loss and waste as part of broader efforts to enhance food security and environmental sustainability.
Qatar’s delegation was headed by HE Undersecretary of the Ministry of Municipality Eng. Ali bin Mohammed Al Ali, who addressed the session titled “Post-Harvest Loss Reduction: A Strategic Perspective on Food Supply Chain Efficiency.” The event brought together ministers, senior officials and experts from around the world to discuss strategies for improving food systems and minimizing waste.
In his remarks, Eng. Al Ali stressed that reducing post-harvest losses and improving food supply chain efficiency are essential to achieving food security and sustainability, particularly in light of climate change, growing food demand and increasing pressure on natural resources.
He noted that tackling food loss and waste remains a national priority for Qatar and forms a key component of the country’s National Food Security Strategy 2030. In this context, Qatar is developing a comprehensive national programme aimed at reducing food loss and waste in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The undersecretary highlighted an ongoing national project to establish baseline indicators for food loss and food waste in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), alongside several national partners. The initiative is designed to generate accurate data that will support policymaking, guide future programmes and measure progress in this critical area.
Eng. Al Ali also outlined Qatar’s efforts to enhance agricultural productivity and reduce losses across food value chains through sustainable farming practices, improved post-harvest management, and the strengthening of logistics, cooling and storage infrastructure. These measures, he said, have contributed to improving the quality of agricultural products and minimizing losses during transportation and distribution.
The official further reviewed key national initiatives in environmental sustainability and waste management, emphasizing their role in improving environmental services and supporting the transition toward a circular economy. These efforts align with the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy.
He underscored the importance of international cooperation, knowledge exchange and innovation in building resilient and sustainable food supply chains, reaffirming Qatar’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with countries and international organizations to advance global food security and sustainable development goals.
On the sidelines of the forum, Eng. Al Ali held a series of bilateral meetings aimed at enhancing international relations and expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
Source: QNA
