Fisheries Minister Urges Global Action to Combat Rising Food Waste in Maldives

Minister of Fisheries, Agriculture and Ocean Resources Ahmed Shiyam has called for international cooperation and the adoption of modern technology to address critical food waste and security challenges. Speaking at the Zero Waste Forum in Istanbul, Türkiye, the Minister emphasized that global collaboration is essential to building efficient food supply chains. During a high-level ministerial panel, Minister Shiyam highlighted the unique geographical hurdles the Maldives faces. He explained that the nation's dispersed islands make the storage and transport of perishables exceptionally difficult, leading to higher rates of spoilage. To mitigate these logistics issues, the government has implemented the "Agri Boat" system, designed to streamline the transport of agricultural products across different regions. Addressing the scale of the problem, the Minister warned that food waste levels remain alarmingly high in the Maldives, particularly within the tourism sector and luxury resorts. To tackle this, the government is partnering with the World Food Programme (WFP) to strengthen food safety laws and regulations. Current initiatives include the expansion of cold storage facilities and the promotion of value-added food products to extend shelf life and reduce waste. Minister Shiyam stressed that technological advancement alone is insufficient; success requires a joint effort between stakeholders and governments. He advocated for increased financial assistance, technical information, and modern tools for local farmers and fishermen to ensure sustainable production. On the sidelines of the forum, Minister Shiyam met with Türkiye’s Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, İbrahim Yumaklı. The two officials discussed strengthening bilateral ties and accelerating the implementation of the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA). The discussions focused on translating these formal agreements into concrete actions that provide tangible benefits for the agriculture and fisheries sectors of both nations. The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment to expand cooperation in sustainable development and food security, reaffirming the strategic partnership between the Maldives and Türkiye.