Australia strongly supports action to realise Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 to halve global per capita food waste. We commend FAO for keeping this issue on the APRC agenda.

Australia supports FAO’s approach of linking FLW reduction to making agrifood systems more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. We agree that it is important to understand how much FLW is occurring, where along the supply chain, and why.

Australia appreciates the effort in designing an intervention framework for reducing FLW in the region. We encourage the collaboration and partnership of state and non-state actors and raising awareness of the issue to foster behavioural change.

In other comments, Australia has noted the data gaps and limitations that can exist in the Pacific, and would welcome further information from FAO at the APRC whether these gaps are evident when it comes to measuring and understanding FLW in the Pacific. We note that a number of pilot activities in Asia are referenced in the paper, and would welcome information on any pilot activities operating or planned in the Pacific.

Food wastage remains a significant issue in Australia. However, we note that the 7.6 million tonnes of food waste per year referenced in paragraph 8 refers to both food loss and waste in Australia.[1] We also note that the linked document should be to the Food Innovation Australia Limited website, not the Department of Environment, Energy, Climate Change and Water.[2]

Australia has taken a number of measures to address food loss and waste, both through whole-of-government strategies, as well as policies to support action in the private sector.

The Australian Government’s key policy is the National Food Waste Strategy established in 2017. This matches the SDG12.3 target of halving food waste by 2030 and provides a framework to support collective action towards achieving this goal. The Strategy takes a circular economy approach that uses the food waste hierarchy: prioritising food waste management practices that favour avoidance over reuse, recycling, reprocessing, energy recovery, and waste disposal.

Australia is also implementing policies to support private sector waste reduction efforts. End Food Waste Australia (EFWA), supported by Australian Government funding, focuses on transforming the way industries and consumers view and contribute to food waste.

• The End Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre delivers industry‑led research on solutions to reduce food waste across the supply chain and to transform unavoidable waste into saleable products.
• The Australian Food Pact (AFP) is a voluntary agreement that brings together the largest food retailers, manufacturers, and primary producers to target food waste throughout their supply chains.

Across the region, the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) is undertaking projects to address food loss.

• The Food Loss Research Program, a $3 million project in partnership with Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), partners with developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Pacific to address food loss through innovative, locally driven solutions.[3]
  • Projects include developing food loss reduction practices in mango and tomato value chains in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and promoting a gender-inclusive participatory approach to reducing horticultural food loss in the Pacific.

Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) has a significant research program towards developing Australia’s circular economy. CSIRO’s international projects include the development of a National Circular Economy Roadmap for Reducing Plastic Waste in India.[4]

The University of the Sunshine Coast has also partnered with FAO to deliver research on FLW in the Pacific.[5]

Nearly halfway into the SDG timetable, it is crucial that we ensure progress is being made on FLW, and Australia welcomes the opportunity to share our experience with regional partners. We encourage FAO to continue to keep Members informed about ongoing efforts and results in this area.

Acknowledging FAO’s different programs across Asia and the Pacific to address FLW, we recommend that FAO engage with relevant experienced organisations in the region to combine learnings and avoid duplication.

Finally we note the suggestion of FLW to be a central issue in COP28 processes, and we welcome any information FAO can share on consideration of FLW issues at the COP.

FAO welcomes the comments from Australia on the importance of FLW reduction. 

We note Australia’s national initiatives to reduce FLW in the country and its partnerships with other donors to support food loss reduction in Sri Lanka, Pakistan and the Pacific.  We note the corrected note that Australia’s data (7.6 million tonnes/year) covers both food loss and food waste.

We note the significance of the issue of food loss and waste for the region and its impact on food insecurity, GHG emissions, environmental pollution and degradation of natural ecosystems and the important role that reducing food loss and waste will have in transforming agrifood systems.

We believe that there are many constructive ways to move towards reducing food loss and waste and recognise the important role of FAO, and a scientific evidence base, in supporting these across the food chain.

We note that food loss and waste considerations are central to the processes being followed up from COP 28 and we welcome any updates from FAO on this interface and progress going forward.

Philippine Position on How to Fight Food Loss and Waste in Asia and the Pacific Region

1. The Philippines recognizes the significant problem of food loss and waste (FLW) in the Asia and Pacific region. FLW not only results in substantial economic losses and food insecurity but also contributes to environmental degradation. Addressing the problem is multifaceted, requiring a comprehensive and collaborative approach that has to be participated in by all stakeholders, including government, private sector, civil society, and consumers.
2. One of the critical factors contributing to FLW is the lack of access to adequate infrastructure and storage facilities, which impacts the quality and quantity of food available. Furthermore, poor handling and transportation practices during the entire supply chain lead to food damage and spoilage. Addressing these challenges requires a concerted effort to ensure efficient and sustainable food systems in the country.
3. The Philippines has taken significant steps to tackle FLW. These measures include the enactment of the Food Safety Act of 2013, which provides a comprehensive framework to ensure food safety and quality, thereby reducing FLW. Moreover, the Philippine government has been supporting farmer cooperatives and organizations, which have proved instrumental in reducing FLW by providing farmers with access to training, resources, and markets.
4. With the current administration’s focus on modernizing Philippine agriculture and strengthening its value chain, greater investments are encouraged from both government and private sectors to increase agricultural productivity and lower food costs and reduce food losses and waste. The Philippines, therefore, aligns with the following actions presented in the document to combat FLW in the Asia and Pacific region:

●          Invest in infrastructure and technology: The Philippine Department of Agriculture plans to build more cold storage facilities and the construction of farm-to-market roads, ports, or other facilities to enhance the movement of agricultural products as part of a broader strategy to address overproduction and minimize post-harvest losses of agricultural products, particularly vegetables, and other high-value crops. It is greatly noted that improving farmers’ and fishers’ market access can significantly reduce FLW.

●          Promote sustainable agriculture practices: Filipino farmers are encouraged to adopt sustainable agriculture practices that reduce FLW, such as using improved crop varieties and implementing integrated pest management techniques.

●          Raise awareness among consumers: At the same time, awareness campaigns are being conducted among Filipino consumers about the environmental and economic impacts of FLW, encouraging them to adopt behaviors that reduce food waste, such as planning meals ahead of time and storing food properly.

5. The Philippines is therefore pleased to receive the recommendation of the APRC regarding the creation of an enabling environment that supports private-sector action and facilitates public-private partnerships. Collaboration with all stakeholders in agricultural infrastructure and mechanization can accelerate the modernization of the farm sector, enhance productivity, and promote food security at national and subnational levels.

6. Further, for these actions to be better identified and situated, research is needed to assess the severity of the FLW issue across agriculture, fishery, post-harvest, and business sectors. In this regard, more research and studies to mitigate food waste should be conducted and the collaboration between private sector companies, FAO, and government to do these efforts should be encouraged. Research studies that explore waste management to turn waste into assets should be included.

7. Finally, in responding to reducing FLW, the FAO is urged to work continuously with member countries to provide comprehensive, evidence-based, and systematic policy and technical support that will help fill knowledge and capacity gaps, strengthen policy, regulatory, and institutional frameworks, and incentivize and stimulate action by food supply chain actors.

8. In the same way, the Philippines encourages member countries to share best practices and experiences in addressing FLW. By working together, we can significantly reduce FLW in Asia and the Pacific, contribute to food security, and protect the environment.

• Thailand recognizes the importance of food loss and waste which is the root cause of food insecurity and widespread malnutrition, greenhouse gas emission, air pollution, ecological degradation, biodiversity loss and resources and environmental wastage. As the National Food Board has a sub-committee on food loss and a sub-committee on food waste reduction according to the vision “ Thailand has food security and nutrition as a source of high-quality, safe and nutritious” , the plan aims to reduce the food scarce population from 8.5 million to 7 million by 2027.

• For the food loss, Thailand has develpoed a National Assessment of food loss and  Agricultural Products and Food to establish a baseline to classify loss- reduction measures throughout the value chain and report on the results of the Sustainable Development Goals, target number 12.3.1 The study of food loss was conducted in accordance with international standards and the Food Loss Index (FLI) SDG 12.3.1a was established with the aim to report the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the National Food Loss Baseline from the results of the assessment of food loss in 5 product groups, totaling 13 products, equivalent to 3.79% to be used as a target value in preparing a proposal guideline for food loss reduction.

• In addition, Thailand has developed guidelines for reducing food loss in the production chain to prepare proposals on how to reduce food loss and monitor the target of food loss and waste reduction in accordance with Thailand’s Food Management Action Plan, Phase 1 (2023 - 2027) by appointing a working group to develop a production chain loss reduction drive plan (2023 - 2027) to draft a production chain loss reduction drive plan (2023 - 2027). The next phase of operations will mobilize a plan to reduce losses in the production chain to achieve the set target, for example reducing losses by 5 percent per year from the baseline.

• For the food waste, Thailand aims to reduce food waste by 5% per year from 2021 to 2030, and by 2030, the government has implemented a 50% reduction in food waste implemented in both government and private sectors. For example, the Scholars of Sustenance (SOS) Foundation focuses on delivering surplus food to vulnerable people in society with the goal of tackling food scarcity while reducing food waste and to strengthen food security in Thailand in a sustainable way. The SOS Foundation has deployed convoy of trucks to transport surplus food to more than 1,002 communities to optimize surplus food and to curb food waste to a minimum level as possible.

• Recommendation

• Encourage the methodology for food loss indicator which can be practical at national level.

Japan would like to recommend FAO and other Member countries to pay attention to the fact that “food loss and waste” is closely related to other environmental issues, such as plastic pollution, in terms of food preservation and storage. While adequate plastic packaging for food contributes to reducing food loss and waste, including by extending shelf life, hence, reducing food loss and waste, we should take appropriate measures to address these multiple issues in a compatible manner.

In order to solve the problem of food loss and waste, and other relevant environmental problems, it is essential to manage the ecological impacts appropriately while utilizing technologies. Furthermore, we would like to point out that innovation in technologies should be tailored to each country and region, in accordance with its own social, economic and environmental conditions.