Doha, June 07 (QNA) - The State of Qatar took part in the High-Level Ministerial Session convened within the Zero Waste Forum 2026 in Istanbul, Turkiye.

The session debated the subject of "Post-Harvest Loss Reduction: A Strategic Perspective on Food Supply Chain Efficiency", with the participation of several ministers, top-echelon officials, and experts from around the globe.

The delegation was led by HE Undersecretary of the Ministry of Municipality, Eng. Ali bin Mohammed Al Ali.

Delivering the State of Qatar's remarks before the session, Eng. Al Ali affirmed that reducing post-harvest loss and strengthening the efficiency of food supply chains are a core pillar for achieving food security and environmental sustainability amid the increasing challenges associated with climate change, growing demand for food, as well as the mounting pressures on natural resources.

The State of Qatar significantly gives overriding priority to the issue of food loss and food waste as part of its national priorities, Al Ali underscored, affirming that as part of the National Food Security Strategy 2030, the nation works to prepare an integrated national program to reduce this issue in sync with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The official clarified that Qatar is executing a national project to establish a baseline for the food loss and food waste indicators, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), alongside a variety of national partners.

This project, he noted, intends to provide accurate data that helps advance policies and programs, as well as gauge the progress made in this domain.

The State of Qatar has taken practical steps to reinforce agricultural production efficiency and reduce food loss through different phases of food value chains, Eng. Al Ali underscored.

He added that these steps include developing sustainable agricultural practices, optimizing post-harvest practices, and enhancing logistical services, as well as cooling and storage chains, thereby helping improve the quality of agricultural products and ultimately reducing loss during transportation and distribution.

In addition, His Excellency reviewed the key national initiatives and projects in the areas of environmental sustainability and waste management which, he shared, have contributed to fostering environmental service efficiency and supporting the pivot toward the circular economy, in alignment with the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy.

He further stated that international cooperation, sharing expertise, and advancing innovative solutions serve as core pillars in building more efficient and sustainable food supply chains.

Eng. Al Ali stressed that the State of Qatar is committed to fostering partnerships with a wide diversity of nations and international organizations in support of combined efforts to achieve sustainable development and food security.

On the sidelines of the forum, HE Eng. Ali bin Mohammed Al Ali held a number of bilateral meetings to boost international relations and broaden mutual cooperation horizons in the areas of shared interest. (QNA)