emirates7 - Reducing food loss and waste is essential for enhancing food security and nutrition, promoting efficient resource use, protecting the environment, and ensuring a more equitable distribution of food resources globally, stated QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), during a video message for the fifth International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, observed on September 29.
The global virtual event, organized by FAO and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), featured remarks from UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen. The event emphasized the urgent need for financing to help reduce food loss and waste, thereby contributing to climate and Sustainable Development goals.
Currently, over 13 percent of food is lost globally in the supply chain after harvest but before retail. Additionally, food waste at the retail, food service, and household levels accounts for 19 percent, according to UNEP statistics.
Food loss and waste contribute approximately 8 to 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Notably, methane produced from food loss has a significantly greater heat-trapping potential than carbon dioxide, further impacting the environment.
“By reducing food loss and waste, countries and communities can achieve improved food security, better access to healthy diets, and reduced malnutrition while decreasing their greenhouse gas emissions,” Qu noted. The OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook Report for 2024-2033 projects that halving food loss and waste could reduce global agricultural greenhouse gas emissions by 4 percent and decrease the number of undernourished people by 153 million by 2030.
To achieve these goals, increased climate investments and the redesign and scaling-up of storage systems to reduce food loss in the supply chain, especially in low-income economies, are crucial. Public awareness and consumer education at the household level are also essential, according to the FAO Director-General.
The fifth International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (IDAFLW) will be observed on September 29, 2024, with the theme “Climate Finance for Food Loss and Waste Reduction.” This observance will highlight the critical need for financing to enhance efforts in reducing food loss and waste, contributing to climate goals and advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The global virtual event, organized by FAO and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), featured remarks from UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen. The event emphasized the urgent need for financing to help reduce food loss and waste, thereby contributing to climate and Sustainable Development goals.
Currently, over 13 percent of food is lost globally in the supply chain after harvest but before retail. Additionally, food waste at the retail, food service, and household levels accounts for 19 percent, according to UNEP statistics.
Food loss and waste contribute approximately 8 to 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Notably, methane produced from food loss has a significantly greater heat-trapping potential than carbon dioxide, further impacting the environment.
“By reducing food loss and waste, countries and communities can achieve improved food security, better access to healthy diets, and reduced malnutrition while decreasing their greenhouse gas emissions,” Qu noted. The OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook Report for 2024-2033 projects that halving food loss and waste could reduce global agricultural greenhouse gas emissions by 4 percent and decrease the number of undernourished people by 153 million by 2030.
To achieve these goals, increased climate investments and the redesign and scaling-up of storage systems to reduce food loss in the supply chain, especially in low-income economies, are crucial. Public awareness and consumer education at the household level are also essential, according to the FAO Director-General.
The fifth International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (IDAFLW) will be observed on September 29, 2024, with the theme “Climate Finance for Food Loss and Waste Reduction.” This observance will highlight the critical need for financing to enhance efforts in reducing food loss and waste, contributing to climate goals and advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.