Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
To raise awareness among children about food security and food safety, the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) has partnered with SpaceToon, a leading content creator, provider and streamer directed to families. As part of the collaboration, six short stories have been adapted into engaging cartoon episodes for children, which will air on SpaceToon by the end of October 2024 and run throughout the Sheikh Zayed Festival in Al Wathba.
The animated stories, each lasting between four to five minutes, tackle key topics related to agriculture and food safety in a child-friendly and educational format. The episodes cover a broad spectrum of topics, including reducing food waste, the value of food; the importance of responsible consumption; ne’ma – the National Food Loss and Waste Initiative; water conservation; the benefits of drip irrigation in farming, and food safety during family trips during the winter.
Topics also cover the importance of understanding food labels, allergies, animal health, preventing common diseases that can spread between humans and animals, and the connection between animal welfare and human health.
Set against the cultural backdrop of Abu Dhabi, the stories incorporate local characters and environments, enhancing the effectiveness of the educational content. The use of familiar Emirati family characters also aim to solidify the connection with the young audience. The characters and places in the episodes are also designed to be familiar to the children, which contributes to the consolidation of the concepts that are presented.
Badr Hassan Al Shehhi, Director of Communication and Community Engagement at ADAFSA, said: “We are delighted to collaborate with SpaceToon on this important initiative aimed at instilling values of sustainability and healthy nutrition in children from an early age. By presenting these concepts in an entertaining and accessible way, we hope to nurture a generation that understands the importance of food security and can make informed food choices.
“These episodes serve not only as entertainment but as a valuable educational resource, simplifying complex concepts for children in a fun and engaging way. We hope that these episodes will be an incentive for children to explore more about the world of agriculture and food. ADAFSA has previously published a series of comics that were well-received by children, especially at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair.”
Al Shehhi expressed confidence that the cartoons would resonate with children, encouraging positive behavioural changes and promoting family and community-level awareness about healthy eating. He highlighted the significance of showcasing the cartoons at the Sheikh Zayed Festival, one of the country’s most important cultural events, which enhances the educational and cultural dimensions of ADAFSA's participation.
Kamel Weiss, Business and Content Director at Spacetoon Group, said: “We're excited to partner with ADAFSA to create an impactful animation that inspires young minds to embrace sustainable food practices, aligning with our mission to empower future generations.”
ADAFSA has already produced three educational booklets, and ten entertaining stories aimed at raising awareness among children about agriculture, food safety, and animal welfare. More than 150,000 copies were printed and distributed, receiving widespread acclaim, particularly at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair 2024.
The printed collection of stories covers a wide range of topics, including the work and services of ADAFSA, diseases common to humans and animals, food label, water use in irrigation, food waste, food safety in desert trips, Eid sacrifices, animal welfare, fresh fish as well as beekeeping and honey production.
