FAO’s Qu Dongyu and UNEP’s Inger Andersen Highlight Importance of Reducing Food Waste
Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), emphasized the importance of reducing food loss and waste to improve food security, nutrition, and environmental protection. He made these remarks in a video message during a global virtual event marking the fifth International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, observed on September 29th.
The event, organized by FAO and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), also featured a message from UNEP’s Executive Director, Inger Andersen. It highlighted the critical need for financing to help reduce food loss and waste, contributing to climate and Sustainable Development goals.
Currently, over 13% of food is lost globally in the supply chain after harvest and before retail stages, while 19% is wasted at retail, food service, and household levels, according to UNEP statistics. Food loss and waste account for an estimated 8 to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with methane gas from food loss having a higher potential to trap heat than carbon dioxide.
Qu Dongyu noted that reducing food loss and waste can improve food security, provide access to healthy diets, and reduce malnutrition while decreasing greenhouse gas footprints. 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% and decrease the number of undernourished people by 153 million by 2030.
To achieve these goals, increased climate investments and the redesign and upscaling of storage systems to reduce food losses, especially in low-income economies, are necessary. Raising public awareness and consumer education at the household level is also critical, according to the FAO Director-General.
The theme for the fifth International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste is ‘Climate Finance for Food Loss and Waste Reduction,’ emphasizing the need for financing to support efforts to reduce food loss and waste, achieve climate goals, and advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Doubts Revealed
FAO -: FAO stands for Food and Agriculture Organization. It is a part of the United Nations that works to improve food and agriculture around the world.
Qu Dongyu -: Qu Dongyu is the Director-General of the FAO. He is a leader who helps make decisions about food and farming globally.
UNEP -: UNEP stands for United Nations Environment Programme. It is a part of the United Nations that works to protect the environment.
Inger Andersen -: Inger Andersen is the Executive Director of UNEP. She helps lead efforts to protect the environment around the world.
Food waste -: Food waste is when food that could be eaten is thrown away. This can happen at home, in stores, or during farming.
Greenhouse gas emissions -: Greenhouse gas emissions are gases like carbon dioxide that trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere. They can make the planet warmer and cause climate change.
Climate finance -: Climate finance is money that is used to help fight climate change. It can be used for projects that reduce pollution or help people adapt to a changing climate.