FAO and DG Research and Innovation: Cutting food losses and waste and boosting urban food systems

FAO Chief Economist Máximo Torero Cullen and FAO Brussels Director Rodrigo de Lapuerta met virtually with Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD) Head of Unit for Bioeconomy and Food Systems, Peter Wehrheim; Deputy Head of Unit Karen Fabbri and Policy Officer for Research/FOOD 2030, Food systems and circularity, Tatiana Tallarico to discuss food loss and waste and their impact on food availability and carbon emissions. Partners stressed the importance of enabling policies and information on the cost-effectiveness of actions to reduce food loss and waste.

FAO’s Chief Economist called attention to what he described as an outdated concept, namely, the idea that food loss concerns only low-income countries while food waste occurs in high-income ones. He stressed the urgent need to work on both. Partners agreed to continue the dialogue and explore areas where they can be mutually supportive.

Another virtual meeting took place between FAO Director of the Food Systems and Food Safety Division Jamie Morrison and representatives from the DG RTD’s Bioeconomy and Food Systems Unit. They discussed urban food production, especially in view of the upcoming UN Food Systems Summit.

Partners focused on food system transformation through research and innovation, and the need to strengthen evidence gathering and capacity development. They also stressed the importance of working with local governments and communities to make urban food systems resilient, green and sustainable, and added that city-to-city exchanges could serve as a good cooperation model. FAO also presented its new Green Cities initiative.