The UNEP Regional Office for West Asia will be announcing renowned Lebanese Chef Leyla Fathallah as UNEP advocate on Food Waste for West Asia region in an event hosted by Hilton’s Conrad Dubai
The event will also include the launching of UNEP’s Sustainable Ramadan Campaign to combat food waste and raise awareness about the adverse impacts of food waste on the environment, on food security notably by intensifying hunger in a region that relies heavily on imports, and on climate change in addition to spreading information on ways to reduce food waste and to promote action towards achieving SDG 12.3
UNEP’s State of Food Waste in West Asia (2021) estimates that food waste increases in the region by 25 to 50 % during religious and social festivities due to the preparation of meals that far exceed families’ needs, with leftovers often being thrown away.
As the world is trying to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 – on halving global food waste per capita at the retail and consumer levels by 2030 – Chef Leyla’s appointment aims to step up the fight against the problem of food waste in a region which relies on food imports and where evidence shows wastage of large quantities of food.
Chef Leyla will be supporting UNEP West Asia’s campaigns on food waste through her social media accounts, recording public service announcements and carrying out speaking engagements or personal appearances at high profile events.