Sustainable cooking is one of the modern methods of preparing food in a way that does not cause excessive consumption of natural resources, and can continue into the future without harming the environment or health.
With the launch of the activities of the International Day of Sustainable Gastronomy, which was designated by the United Nations on June 18 of each year, to encourage the idea of sustainability, we shed light on Iraq's suffering from the problem of food waste and waste, while millions live below the poverty line.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that a third of the food produced each year does not reach the table, which amounts to significant waste and inefficiency. Reducing food waste is one of the top five areas of concern in the transition to more sustainable lifestyles.
The organization recommends that all individuals contribute to the fight against food waste by cooking less, sharing food with neighbours, and raising awareness among our communities, as well as the need for systemic changes across key industries to address food waste.
Zina considered that climate change is one of the biggest threats to food security in Iraq (Al Jazeera Net)
Iraq and waste
According to a report issued by the United Nations Environment Program, Iraq ranked second in food waste after Bahrain in the Central Asian region, where the Iraqi individual wastes 120 kilograms of food annually, while the general waste annually amounts to about 5 million tons of food.
The Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Program in Iraq, Zina Ali Ahmed, explains that sustainable cooking is about producing, cooking and consuming food in a way that has little impact on the environment.
She adds to Al Jazeera Net that sustainable food systems aim to avoid damaging or wasting natural resources, and can help combat the effects of climate change, because they focus on buying local products.
The Preservation of Grace initiative distributes foods to needy families (Al Jazeera Net)
On the future of food in Iraq, Zina reports that climate change is one of the biggest threats to food security in Iraq or the world in general, and that Iraq is among the first five countries most vulnerable to climate change, the increasing frequency of disasters and weather phenomena such as high temperatures, and the lack of Rain, high salinity, and frequent dust storms all have a devastating impact on food security and livelihoods.
She adds that water scarcity is also a major issue and threat to agricultural production, pointing out, "We are working with the Government of Iraq to find solutions to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change."
Zeina stresses that food plays an important role in supporting peace and social cohesion. Hospitality and generosity are vital elements in Iraqi culture, and food unites us around the world, allowing us to speak a common language and understand each other better by learning about unique traditions. to each other.
The UN representative refers to the United Nations Development Program in Iraq through the Food Book, which delves into the history and culture of food in Iraq, as well as focusing on the traditions of each Iraqi governorate separately.
Al-Badrany sustainable cooking method aims to reduce waste and conserve resources (Al Jazeera Net)
cultural expression
Omar Al-Badrany, director of the office of the International Federation of Arab Master Chefs Association in Iraq, says that sustainable cooking is a cultural expression related to the natural and cultural diversity in the world, and it has a major role in promoting agricultural development. The main importance of sustainable cooking is to reduce waste and conserve resources.
Badrani adds to Al Jazeera Net that the United Nations has designated this day, because eating sustainable local food makes a big difference in the environment and economies, and the United Nations expects that in 2050 9 billion people must be fed, and at the present time 32% of the food in the world is wasted either in the process production or due to sufficiency.
In turn, Chef Muhammad Qassem stressed the importance of sustainable cooking and its vital role in preserving Iraq's resources and environment.
He adds to Al Jazeera Net that the problems of food security in Iraq came due to the rise in food prices, population growth, increased unemployment, and the transformation of agricultural areas into residential areas;
Which mainly affected the provision of food.
Qasim points out that the absence of support for the national product, neglect of farms and farmers, and water scarcity led to a lack of product and a change in Iraq's climatic atmosphere.
Al-Kaabi expressed his regret for Iraq's lack of events for the Sustainable Cooking Day (Al-Jazeera Net)
sustainable cooking
Iraqi cuisine is one of the oldest kitchens in the world, and is characterized by several unique dishes, and there are specialized organizations that open courses to teach sustainable cooking and food consumption and raise awareness of that, according to a member of the Iraq Chefs Association, Chef Ali Al-Kaabi.
Speaking to Al-Jazeera Net, Al-Kaabi expresses his regret for Iraq's lack of activities for the Day of Sustainable Cooking, with the lack of activities related to cooking in general.
Al-Kaabi shows that Iraqi cuisine prefers to rely on local products of meat, poultry, fish and vegetables, and tries to preserve its originality while keeping pace with development.
He points out that many Iraqi dishes are similar in countries of the world. Their distinctive taste and flavor drive the Iraqis to stick to their popular cuisine, especially the southern masmouta, the Mosuli kibbeh, the dolma and the masgouf fish, as well as other dishes, considering the Iraqi cuisine to be very rich.
Al-Kaabi stresses the importance of the relationship between the kitchen and nature, as reducing waste provides useful things for the environment, while wasting food incorrectly turns it into waste that harms the nature and environment of Iraq.
Al-Kaabi called on Iraqis to pay attention to sustainable cooking and food preservation, given the conditions the country is going through in all respects, especially the great damage to the environment and desertification that we are witnessing.
Al-Mashhadani believes that extravagance in banquets has become part of the culture inherited by many Iraqis (Al-Jazeera Net)
food waste
The economic expert, Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Mashhadani, believes that Iraq is at the forefront of countries in terms of extravagance and waste of food because of the unique dietary pattern that distinguishes the Iraqi from others in the countries of the region.
He adds to Al Jazeera Net that when a guest comes in any Iraqi house, whether it is for a poor person, a widow or a clan sheikh, you find him offering the most luxurious food, in order to appear in the best picture, in order to show off the basic degree and honor the guest.
Al-Mashhadani reveals that there is great food waste in restaurants, homes, and even religious occasions and visits, in which large quantities of food are cooked, and collective feasts may last for several days.
A boy collects food among piles of garbage in southern Mosul (French)
The economist notes that the extravagance of banquets has become part of the culture that children inherit from their fathers and consider it a kind of generosity, but in fact it is a waste of resources.
He points out that there are about 4.5 million Iraqis below the poverty line, and they are threatened by hunger, while we find that at least half of the Iraqi population wastes food, so the food wasted is enough to feed Iraq's hungry and more.
Al-Mashhadani calls for benefiting from the Turkish experience in agreement with restaurant owners to take the surplus food and prepare it well in order to distribute it to poor families, after preparing a database on the poor and needy in each region.
He points out that despite the existence of social solidarity carried out by some religious associations and institutions in Iraq in an attempt to reduce hunger, it is a limited role, and it needs greater activation.
Al-Hatmi: The Preservation of Grace initiative in Fallujah provides food for more than 300 families daily (Al-Jazeera Net)
save grace
Iraq has witnessed many initiatives to collect surplus food and distribute it to the needy, or put it in a refrigerator in a public place to take from it whoever wants.
Regarding these initiatives, the director of the ongoing charity kitchen in the city of Fallujah (western Iraq), Yassin Al-Hatemi, says that they launched the “Preserving Grace” initiative in 2017, in agreement with the city’s restaurants, and the owners of large events and banquets, whether funerals or weddings, where their team collects and arranges this food, And then distribute it to needy families and orphans.
He assures Al Jazeera Net, that their initiative is self and voluntary far from the parties, and they do not have any government support or affiliation, and he called for the initiative to be generalized throughout Iraq to reduce food waste.
Al-Hatami suggested placing food leftover containers in every neighborhood, so that everyone would take the initiative, and that there should be campaigns through mosques and social media sites to educate people about the importance of sustainable cooking and preserving grace.
On their initiative, Al-Hatami explains that they were able to provide food for more than 300 families daily and within a short period, in cooperation with many of the city's restaurants, each according to his capabilities.