Stop Food Loss and Waste, for the People, for the Planet

28 September 2021 (United Nations)* — Reducing food losses and waste is essential in a world where the number of people affected by hunger has been slowly on the rise since 2014, and tons and tons of edible food are lost and/or wasted every day.

Globally, around 14 percent of food produced is lost between harvest and retail, while an estimated 17 percent of total global food production is wasted (11 percent in households, 5 percent in the food service and 2 percent in retail).

The International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste is an opportunity to call to action both the public (national or local authorities) and the private sector (businesses and individuals), to prioritise actions and move ahead with innovation to reduce food loss and waste towards restoring and building back better and resilient-ready, food systems.

Check how you can help us through FAO, the leading agency for this International Day, and discover what you can do. Take action, start something. Stop food loss and waste. For the people. For the planet.

Why is it important to reduce food loss and waste?

Food loss and waste undermine the sustainability of our food systems. When food is lost or wasted, all the resources that were used to produce this food – including water, land, energy, labour and capital – go to waste.

In addition, the disposal of food loss and waste in landfills, leads to greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change.

Food loss and waste can also negatively impact food security and food availability, and contribute to increasing the cost of food.

Our food systems cannot be resilient if they are not sustainable, hence the need to focus on the adoption of integrated approaches designed to reduce food loss and waste. Actions are required globally and locally to maximise the use of the food we produce.

The introduction of technologies, innovative solutions (including e-commerce platforms for marketing, retractable mobile food processing systems), new ways of working and good practices to manage food quality and reduce food loss and waste are key to implementing this transformative change.

With nine years left to reach target 1, 2, and 3 of Sustainable Development Goal 12 (SDG), there is an urgent need to accelerate action to reduce food loss and waste.

Habits can change. Here are some easy things you can do to be a Food Hero and make not wasting food a way of life.  FAO also offers new ideas to plan a sustainable next holiday by avoiding over-eating and food waste, as well as a poster to print and decorate your fridge to help your family understand our goals.

The International Year of Fruits and Vegetables 2021 (IYFV) aims to raise awareness of the nutritional and health benefits of fruit and vegetable consumption, as well as promoting policy changes and sharing good practices.

Fruits and vegetables also promote balanced diets and healthy lifestyles, and their consumption reduces loss and waste of food. Visit its website and learn more!

*SOURCE: United Nations. Go to ORIGINAL.

2021 Human Wrongs Watch