To ensure the sustainability and quality of food and to deliver it to the largest number of those who deserve it
Emirates Food launches its strategic plan 2023-2027
Last Ramadan, the Emirates Food Bank's initiatives succeeded in distributing more than 5.1 million meals to beneficiaries. Archival
In line with the directives of the wife of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and Her Highness Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Emirates Food Bank Foundation, Emirates Food Bank has launched its strategic plan 2023-2027, which aims to ensure the sustainable development of the bank's activities, through long-term future planning, methodologies and visions aimed at achieving its strategic objectives, promoting the values of giving and sustainability, and enhancing food security.
Dawood Al Hajri, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Emirates Food Bank, said: "The Bank's new strategic plan stems from a clear vision (a sustainable and world-leading bank), and a mission based on optimal planning for managing surplus food, and its goal is to achieve food security, and keep pace with the future directions of the UAE in supporting the values of sustainable development, in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in consolidating the concepts of wise dealing with the blessing of food. The most important features of the civilization and sophistication of society, in a way that embodies the values of goodness and giving in the UAE, and in implementation of the directives of Her Highness Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, in working to provide sustainable plans for the bank, which ensure the provision and provision of food to those who deserve it around the world."
He added: "The new strategic plan reflects the noble goal of the bank as an integrated humanitarian system that increases the value of feeding food, and delivering it to the largest number of those who deserve it locally and globally with high quality, within a tight and sustainable institutional framework, and its firm institutional values: humanity, giving, sustainability, and social responsibility, in continuation of the successful march started by the bank as part of its strategy to secure food for those who deserve."
The Bank's new strategic plan aims to keep pace with future trends to ensure sustainability in its field of competence by supporting national farmers and reaching 100% of the partnership with them, and expanding strategic partnerships with food establishments, companies and hotels to donate surplus food and reduce food waste.
The plan also aims to promote digital transformation that ensures easy access to the largest number of beneficiaries and donors, as well as contribute to supporting the circular economy and environmental sustainability by reducing food waste by 30% by 2027, diverting the surplus from the landfill route, and expanding global and regional reach to reach the largest number of beneficiaries globally.
Over the past years, the Emirates Food Bank has achieved a number of important achievements, as the number of surplus meals distributed to beneficiaries during the period from 2017 to 2023 reached more than 55 million meals, equivalent to 55,200 tons that were preserved from waste and converted into meals distributed to beneficiaries, while the number of strategic partnerships of the bank with food establishments, hotels, restaurants, hypermarkets, central kitchens and charities reached more than <> strategic partners.
The Bank organized more than 290 events that included campaigns, workshops and awareness programs from its launch until the end of last year, with the aim of promoting the concept of continuous giving and maintaining grace, and raising awareness among various segments of society, including youth, strategic partners, volunteers and children about the importance of managing surplus food, in addition to the presence of several local branches of the Bank in the country.
In addition, the Emirates Food Bank signed five memorandums of understanding with regional food banks to exchange expertise, information and experiences and enhance future cooperation, in order to preserve surplus food, reduce its waste, apply health and food safety standards for surplus food, and train volunteers on the storage and preservation of surplus food, and deliver it to eligible families.
During the month of Ramadan, the initiatives of the Emirates Food Bank succeeded in distributing more than 5.1 million meals to beneficiaries, which reached 495,197 families, and two million and 628,413 workers inside and outside the UAE, while the number of volunteers in implementing the initiatives reached more than 720 volunteers, in evidence of the growing awareness of the importance of the bank's message and seeks to achieve with the participation of community members.
The Bank also participated in the UAE's national initiative "Jusoor Al Khair", launched by the UAE to provide relief to those affected by the earthquake in Syria and Turkey, where it succeeded in delivering 292 tons and 700 kilograms of food to the Emirates Red Crescent as relief campaigns sent to beneficiaries there, as part of its efforts to provide food at the global level in coordination with partners.
Through campaigns and in partnership with the private sector, the Bank was able to divert more than 908,73 kg of food from the landfill route, benefit from edible foods and recycle unfit for human consumption, in addition to producing 367 tons of fertilizer by recycling 409,306 kg of food waste, which contributed to reducing carbon emissions by two million 687,96 kg, which is equivalent to planting 112,<> trees.
• With the slogan of a sustainable and world-leading bank, the bank seeks to support national farmers and expand strategic partnerships that stimulate the donation of surplus food and reduce food waste.
• 55 million meals were distributed to beneficiaries during the period from 2017 to 2023.