Amman: Activities of the Smart Food Conference and Exhibition kicked off in Amman Wednesday, with the presence of representatives from embassies, unions, agricultural federations and international organizations. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Mohammad Hiyari, who inaugurated the conference, said the event discussed multiple issues, primarily food waste, strategic crop production and food manufacturing. Hiyari added that food waste is a "global" challenge that requires "immediate and effective" measures, as a third of the world's production is wasted due to lack of awareness or limited capabilities, which causes "serious" nutritional, environmental and economic impacts. Locally, he noted the ministry launched a national campaign under the theme, "No to Food Waste" to direct individuals' behavior to reduce waste, which is estimated annually at 93 kilograms per person, equivalent to about 955,000 tonnes, enough to cover the food needs of about 1.5 million p eople for a whole year. Hiyari indicated that the initiative saw the launch of a "creative" training program to challenge food waste and establish a related national index. Hiyari explained that the ministry is working to improve agricultural techniques and increase their "efficiency," by launching initiatives to finance smart agriculture and support modern production. In this regard, he referred to the investment project in Jordan's Sarhan and Hamad basins, which provides 36 investment opportunities over an area of ??36,000 dunums, to exploit a water reserve of up to 24 million cubic meters, aimed to establish manufacturing or export projects or producing strategic crops. On its vision, he stated that the ministry is working to stimulate food industries, in partnership with the private sector, under the project to stimulate agricultural industries and attract investment in Jordan's industrial zones and establish a food industries complex in the southern Jordan Valley. Source: Jordan News Agency