MENA Newswire News Desk: ROME, 28th September, 2024 – Reducing global food loss and waste is essential for improving food security, promoting sustainability, and protecting the environment, according to QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Speaking at a virtual event today marking the fifth International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, Qu emphasized the need for greater efforts to address the issue, which affects food systems worldwide.
The event, co-organized by the FAO and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), featured remarks from UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen, who also stressed the importance of investing in solutions to curb food loss and waste. Andersen highlighted the critical need for financial support to reduce food loss throughout the supply chain and contribute to achieving climate goals, as well as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set for 2030.
Globally, approximately 13 percent of food is lost after harvest and before it reaches retailers, according to UNEP statistics. At the consumer and retail levels, food waste is even more prevalent, accounting for around 19 percent of total food waste. Together, food loss and waste contribute to between 8 and 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, with methane from decomposing food having a more potent impact on global warming than carbon dioxide.
Qu highlighted the need for countries to adopt strategies that both mitigate food loss and waste and improve food security. He pointed out that the OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook Report 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 investments in climate resilience and the redesign of food storage systems, particularly in low-income economies, are critical.
Public awareness campaigns and consumer education at the household level also play a vital role in reducing waste. Qu concluded by urging global stakeholders to prioritize funding and resources toward these initiatives. The fifth International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, observed annually on September 29th, highlights the urgent need for financing to address food loss and waste. This year’s theme, “Climate Finance for Food Loss and Waste Reduction,” underscores the connection between sustainable food systems and climate action.