Summary

This initiative was conducted in collaboration with Oman Environmental Services Holding Company (be’ah) and Sohar University.

The study was launched in response to the growing global and national concern over food waste and its impact on food security, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste management systems. In Oman, food waste represents approximately 27% of total municipal solid waste, as revealed by be’ah's latest waste composition analysis.

The objective of this initiative was to develop tools to continuously measure public awareness regarding food and food packaging waste at the household level. The project aimed to establish a baseline measurement, analyze the root causes of low awareness, and propose effective strategies and solutions to raise awareness across Oman. The study aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal 12.3, which targets a 50% reduction in food waste by 2030 at the retail and consumer levels.

This study provides a nationally relevant, research-backed framework for understanding and addressing food waste awareness. The insights generated are expected to shape policy decisions, guide future public campaigns, and support behavioral change. The resulting tool also offers a benchmark for long-term monitoring of food waste awareness and supports Oman’s progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 and Vision 2040.

Research Team Members:

Principal Investigator:

• Dr. Rakesh Belwal - Sohar University

Co-Investigators:

• Fatma Al-Qasmi - Sohar University