International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste
The United Nations General Assembly designated 29 September as International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste by the Resolution A/RES/74/209. In recognizing the fundamental role that sustainable food production plays in promoting food security and nutrition. Doubtless, this new International Day faces a lot of challenges to achieve our goals of "Responsible consumption and production", which will contribute to the fight for Zero Hunger and against Climate Change. Reducing food loss and waste requires the attention and actions of all, from food producers, to food supply chain stakeholders, to food industries, retailers and consumers.
FORUM: International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste. ''Stop food loss and waste. For the people. For the planet.''
Rethinking about the challenge of reducing food loss and waste during COVID-19, The COVID-19 pandemic continues generating significant challenges to food security in many countries. Disruptions in supply chains, quarantine measures, the closure of much of the hospitality industry and schools… All these measures have resulted in a loss of markets for producers and distributors, making the situation even more challenging while dealing with high levels of food waste. When food is loss 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. That is the reason why this first theme for the new Observance will be “Stop food loss and waste. For the people. For the planet.”
CAMPAIGN: Actions are required globally and locally to maximize 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.
Food loss and waste is an ethical outrage. In a world with enough food to feed all people, everywhere, 690 million people continue to go hungry and 3 billion cannot afford a healthy diet.
Food loss and waste also squanders natural resources – water, soil and energy, not to mention human labour and time. It worsens climate change, given the significant role of agriculture in generating greenhouse gas emissions.
International concern is reflected in Sustainable Development Goal 2, which enshrines a commitment to achieving zero hunger, and in SDG 12, which calls on us to halve food waste and reduce food loss by 2030. While many countries are taking action, we need to step up efforts.
The COVID-19 pandemic has underlined the fragility of our food systems, and worsened food loss and waste in many countries. We need new approaches and solutions.
This inaugural observance of the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste comes as we prepare for the 2021 Food Systems Summit.
I urge countries to set a reduction target aligned with SDG 12, measure their food loss and waste and act boldly to reduce it. Policy action in this area should also be included in climate plans under the Paris Agreement.
Many businesses should take a similar approach. Individuals can shop carefully, store food correctly and make good use of leftovers.
Let us work together to reduce food loss and waste for the benefit of people and our planet.
António Guterres
Reducing food losses along the supply chain and cutting food waste by 50% at a retail and consumer level is critical to achieving a sustainable world. But how are we going to do this?
The idea of perfect produce often causes food to be wasted in supermarkets. Providing variety and having shelves always stocked for customers is another challenge that retailers face. Consumers tend to underestimate the amount they waste. Creating awareness of how much food is really wasted is vital to making a difference. Reducing food loss and waste substantially at the global level will not be easy. When a little bit of food is lost and wasted at every stage from farm to the consumer it all adds up. It will require better information, targeted investments, and a change in our behaviour. Whether you are a farmer, work in logistics, are a retailer or a consumer, everyone has a role to play in rising to the challenge. FAO
The COVID-19 pandemic has underlined the fragility of our food systems, and worsened food loss and waste in many countries. We need new approaches and solutions."
António Guterres