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29 Oct, 2014

UN agencies launch initiative to curb “unacceptably high” global food waste

United Nations, 24 October 2014 (UN News Centre) – The world wastes enough food to feed an estimated two billion people, the United Nations said today as its three Rome-based food agencies announced the launch of a digital platform designed to take aim at the growing problem of “food loss.”

The new online programme, called the Global Community of Practice (CoP) on Food Loss Reduction, was jointly launched by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP), with the goal of becoming “a global reference point” in the facilitation of information sharing between stakeholders such as public entities, civil society and the private sector.

As a result, it will also permit stakeholders to tap into relevant news and events and access links to online libraries and databases as well as social networks and online trainings.

FAO, IFAD and WFP joint project “Mainstreaming food loss reduction initiatives for smallholders in food deficit areas” aims to improve food security and income generation through reduction of food losses in food grains and pulses value chains. Photo: FAO/Alessandra Benedetti

In a press release marking the inauguration of the project, FAO Deputy-Director General for Natural Resources, Maria Helena Semedo, stressed that with more than 800 million people in the world still suffering from hunger, saving food was of paramount of importance.

“When food is saved, the resources used to produce it are saved. Reducing waste and losses by not creating these in the first place should be a priority for all,” said Ms. Semedo.

According to UN estimates, in fact, roughly 30 percent of global food production, that is 40-50 percent of root crops, fruits and vegetables, 20 percent of oilseeds, meat and dairy products and 35 per cent of fish, is either lost or wasted, amounting to some 1.3 billion tonnes – or enough food to feed 2 billion people.

Amid the wastefulness, global efforts to reduce the “unacceptably high” rates of food loss must also be holistic, IFAD Vice-President Michel Mordasini added, pointing to the role of smallholder farmers who, he said, were “most vulnerable.” For its part, the WFP’s Post-Harvest Loss Reduction initiative currently reaches 16,000 smallholder farm families in Uganda, with the aim of reducing post-harvest losses by 70 percent amongst participating smallholder farmers.

“The available technical solutions still have to be made accessible and affordable to those farming communities,” Mr. Mordasini continued.

“I am therefore encouraged by the fact that the Global Community of Practice on Food Losses will engage with and tap into the knowledge of farmers and practitioners, as well as researchers, development agencies and policymakers.”

The platform is part of “Mainstreaming Food Loss Reduction for Smallholders in Food Deficit Areas,” an ongoing project by FAO, IFAD and WFP which is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

The Global Community of Practice on Food Loss Reduction aims to become a global reference point that facilitates the sharing of information and linkages between stakeholders including public entities, civil society and the private sector.

The platform allows stakeholders to stay tuned on relevant news and events and access links to online libraries, databases, repositories with relevant materials and also social networks. A number of online trainings and e-learning modules on post-harvest management will also be available on the platform.

IFAD Vice-President Michel Mordasini highlighted the importance of farmers in reducing food losses noting how food losses remain “unacceptably high and greatly impact smallholder farmers who are most vulnerable”.

“The available technical solutions still have to be made accessible and affordable to those farming communities. I am therefore encouraged by the fact that the Global Community of Practice on Food Losses will engage with and tap into the knowledge of farmers and practitioners, as well as researchers, development agencies and policymakers,” Mordasini said.

WFP Assistant Executive Director, Ramiro Lopes da Silva, welcomed the launch of the new platform and noted how WFP’s own Post-Harvest Loss Reduction initiative currently reaches 16,000 smallholder farm families in Uganda, with the aim of reducing post-harvest losses by 70 percent amongst participating smallholder farmers.

“Through the CoP, we look forward to sharing these experiences and best practices with other organizations involved in similar efforts, Lopes da Silva said.

By accessing the platform it is possible to stay informed on projects and programmes on food loss reduction and post-harvest management, including the: Global Initiative on Food Loss and Waste Reduction, SAVE FOOD.

Stakeholders will also be able to participate in online moderated discussion fora. The first of these runs until 13 January 2015 and covers the topic: Losses occurring along maize supply chains: levels, causes and solutions promoted. The platform is currently available in English, French and Spanish.

The “Mainstreaming Food Loss Reduction for Smallholders in Food Deficit Areas” project envisages a number of other outcomes besides the CoP platform. These include improved handling and storage options within grains and pulses value chains for smallholder farmers in several pilot countries: Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.