A UAE newspaper has said that as global hunger mounts for the first time in decades, a commitment to zero tolerance for food waste from both consumers and the food industry is the need of the hour. It is heartening, it said, that the UAE remains in the forefront in the war against food waste.

"While countries marked World Food Day 2017 on Monday, the UAE has kept up the momentum by opening a second food bank site in Dubai," said The Gulf Today in an editorial on Tuesday.

It may be recalled that His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, dedicated his Accession Day, 4th January, to the launch of the first UAE Food Bank, a non-profit, charitable organisation committed to distributing food to those in need while eliminating food waste.

The paper continued, "An alarming amount of food purchased by people in the UAE is surplus to their needs. The issue of eliminating food waste globally while simultaneously alleviating hunger is critical, especially when considering that there are 200,000 children born every day in food-deprived households, and many more residing in rural and underprivileged areas.

"The noble aim of the UAE Food Bank is to distribute food to those in need while eliminating food waste by collaborating with local authorities as well as local and international charities to create a comprehensive ecosystem to efficiently store, package and distribute excess fresh food from hotels, restaurants and supermarkets.

"The Dubai Municipality has been proactive in promoting the cause and has organised several events to create awareness.

"The UAE has been doing its best to tackle food waste. The rest of the world needs to wake up to meet the challenge.

The paper concluded by quoting H.H. Sheikh Mohammed as saying, "Feeding others is the essence of compassion, a pillar of our Emirati values and core to Sheikh Zayed’s legacy."