On September 6, 2018, the forum on “Food Waste Reduction----Action in China” was held in Beijing. The forum was co-organized by China Chain Store Franchise Association, China Household Electrical Appliances Research Institute and IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute. More than 100 experts and representatives  from the UN, domestic and international scientific research institutes, NGOs, industry associations and enterprises gathered together to discuss and share the experiences of food waste reduction at home and abroad.

Food waste reduction has always been a topic of high concern around the world. The specific target of the UN Sustainable Development Goals 12.3 clearly states that by 2030, global food waste per capita in the retail and consumer sectors should be halved, reducing food losses at production and supply stage.

Dr. Vincent Martin, Representative of the FAO in China delivered a keynote speech highlighting that “the key to addressing the challenges of reducing food loss and waste is to enhance people's awareness of food waste.” He also emphasized that “awareness cannot bring the change by itself. We need to take concrete actions, including policy and regulations, technical and financial supports, and more importantly, innovative thinking and measures.”  

For a long time, FAO has been working with IFAD and WFP on the Community of Practice (CoP) on food loss reduction, serving as a global convener and an integrator of knowledge related to post-harvest loss reduction.  FAO and Messe Düsseldorf lead the SAVE FOOD - Global Initiative on Food Loss and Waste Reduction. Together with IFPRI, FAO works on the Technical Platform on the Measurement and Reduction of Food Loss and Waste as a legacy of 2015 G20.

In China, FAO established its agricultural innovation lab to incubate new development ideas and proposals with different partners on the topic of food loss and waste. One of the ideas on promoting ugly food was well received and retained for through further coloration with JD.com.

The “Food Waste Reduction----Action in China” platform has been supported by many organizations and companies including the Swedish Embassy in China, FAO. The platform has also established a cooperative relationship with several domestic and international projects like EU REFRESH project, key research and development projects of the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the “Think, Eat, Save” project of UNEP and FAO.

In the future, the platform will release SAVE 12.3 solutions, innovative technology solutions and public education activities in China, driving the implementation of the SDG12.3 targets in China, and promoting the spread of green lifestyles and sustainable consumption.