Global Initiative onFood Loss and Waste reduction

Working Group on Food Losses, FAO

Introduction

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Global Food Losses and Food Waste

1.3 billion ton( 1 300 000 000 000 kg )

Introduction

Inter-divisional Working Group on Food Losses

Rural Infrastructure & Agro-Industries (AGS)Nutrition and Consumer Protection (AGN)

Plant Production and Protection (AGP)Animal Production and Health (AGA)

Fisheries and Aquaculture Products, Trade & Marketing (FIPM)

Fisheries and AquacultureDepartment

Contents1. Extent of food losses and waste

2. Causes and prevention of food losses and waste

3. Global Initiative on Food Losses and Waste Reduction – SAVE FOOD

Extent of food losses and wasteCEREALS

Extent of food losses and wasteFRUITS & VEGETABLES

Extent of food losses and wastePER CAPITA

Causes and Prevention of food losses and wasteIn industrialized countries food gets lost when production exceeds demand.

Prevention: Communication and cooperation between farmers.

Causes and Prevention of food losses and wasteHigh ‘appearance quality standards’ from supermarkets for fresh products lead to food waste.

Prevention: - Consumer surveys by supermarkets.

- Sales closer to consumers.

Causes and Prevention of food losses and waste‘Disposing is cheaper than using or re-using’ attitude in industrialized countries leads to food waste.

Prevention: develop markets for ‘sub-standard’ products.

Causes and Prevention of food losses and wasteAbundance and consumer attitudes lead to high food waste in industrialized countries.

Prevention: Public awareness.

Causes and Prevention of food losses and wasteIn developing countries food gets lost due to:- Poor production planning- Production problems- Premature harvesting

Prevention:- Organizing small farmers- Diversifying and upscaling production and marketing

In general:- Improving the effeciency of the food

supply chains

Causes and Prevention of food losses and wastePoor storage facilities, packaging and lack of infrastructure cause postharvest food losses in developing countries.

Prevention: investment in infrastructure, packaging and transportation.

Causes and Prevention of food losses and wasteUnsafe food is not fit for human consumption and therefore is wasted.

Prevention: develop knowledge and capacity of food chain operators to apply safe food handling practices.

Causes and Prevention of food losses and waste Lack of processing facilities causes

high food losses in developing countries.

Prevention: - improve investment climate for agro-industry- develop contract farming linkages between processors and farmer

Causes and Prevention of food losses and waste- Large quantities on display and a wide range of products/

brands in supply lead to food waste in industrialized countries.

- Inadequate market systems cause high food losses in developing countries.

Prevention: Marketing cooperatives and improved market facilities.

A new strategy for food loss reduction

The impacts of food losses and waste are multi-faceted.

- Food security

- Nutrition, Food quality and safety

- Economics and Distribution

- Environment

A new strategy for food loss reduction

Strategies for reducing food losses are being adjusted.

Reasons:

- growing influence of private sector led enterprises- global market integration

- urbanization- growing south-south food trade

- ‘lengthening’ of food chains.

A new strategy for food loss reductionSupply chain approach - Viable business case

Sustainability of food supply chains

Feasibility / effectiveness of interventions:- technically

- economically- nutritionally, food security-wise

- environmentally- socially and culturally

NEED FOR PARTNERSHIP !!

Global Initiative on Food Losses andWaste Reduction – SAVE FOOD

THE KNOWLEDGE GAP

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Impact and feasibility of solutionsBeneficial effect of food loss reduction

Magnitude of food losses in food supply chains

Impact and feasibility of solutionsBeneficial effect of food loss reduction

Impact and feasibility of solutions

Importance of different causes

Causes of food losses in food supply chains

Global Initiative on Food Losses andWaste Reduction – SAVE FOOD

1 The effect of food waste and losses on food prices

2 Quantifying the causes and analysing the solutions to reduce losses, - a food supply chain approach, on a regional basis

3 The relationship between food products date marking and food waste

4 Raising awareness on food losses and waste - a world-wide media campaign

5 Regional Save Food Congresses

PROGRAMME 2012-13

Global Initiative on Food Losses andWaste Reduction – SAVE FOODPARTNERSHIPS

Interpack/ Messe DüsseldorfConsortium of companies and institutions in the food packaging industry

FAO / Save Food welcomes partners

to join the initiativewww.save-food.org

www.fao.org/save-food

Internal Collaboration and PartnershipsINTERESTED PARTNERS/ PARTIESInternational Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)World Food Programme (WFP) African Development Bank (AfDB)African Postharvest Losses Information System - APHLIS (Natural Resources Institute, EU Joint Research Centre)Donor countries – Germany, Switzerland, NorwayInternational Trade Centre (ITC)AndinaPack – South AmericaBBC World ServiceWageningen University & Research Centre (WUR)European Packaging Summit (World Trade Group)Sustainable Packaging Coalition (GreenBlue)Rio+20 Climate ConferenceWorld Water Forum / World Water Week (SIWI)Global FoodBanking Network

Thank you