Global Initiative on
Food Loss and Waste reduction
Working Group on Food Losses, FAO
Introduction
Global Food Losses and Food Waste
1.3 billion ton
( 1 300 000 000 000 kg )
11 // 33
Introduction
Fisheries and Aquaculture
Department
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)
Contents
1. 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 waste
CEREALS
Extent of food losses and waste
FRUITS & VEGETABLES
Extent of food losses and waste
PER CAPITA
Causes and Prevention of food losses and waste
In industrialized countries food gets lost when production exceeds demand.
Prevention: Communication and cooperation between farmers.
Causes and Prevention of food losses and waste
High ‘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 waste
Abundance and consumer
attitudes lead to high food
waste in industrialized
countries.
Prevention: Public awareness.
Causes and Prevention of food losses and waste
In 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 waste
Poor 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 waste
Unsafe 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 reduction
Supply 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 and
Waste Reduction – SAVE FOOD
THE KNOWLEDGE GAP
√
Magnitude of food losses in food supply chains
√
Causes of food losses in food supply chains
?
Importance of different causes
?
Impact and feasibility of solutions
√
Beneficial effect of food loss reduction
Global Initiative on Food Losses and
Waste Reduction – SAVE FOOD
PROGRAMME 2012-13
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
Global Initiative on Food Losses and
Waste Reduction – SAVE FOOD
PARTNERSHIPS
Interpack/ Messe Düsseldorf
Consortium of companies and institutions
in the food packaging industry
FAO / Save Food welcomes partners
to join the initiative
www.save-food.org
www.fao.org/save-food
Internal Collaboration and Partnerships
INTERESTED PARTNERS/ PARTIES
International 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, Norway
International Trade Centre (ITC)
AndinaPack – South America
BBC World Service
Wageningen University & Research Centre (WUR)
European Packaging Summit (World Trade Group)
Sustainable Packaging Coalition (GreenBlue)
Rio+20 Climate Conference
World Water Forum / World Water Week (SIWI)
Global FoodBanking Network
Thank you