FAO observes the fifth International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste with calls for increased investment and regional collaboration

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the League of Arab States (LAS), held the 5th International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (IDAFLW) in Cairo, Egypt. The event, hosted in a hybrid format, brought together stakeholders from across the region to spotlight ongoing efforts to combat food loss and waste (FLW), with a strong emphasis on the need for greater investment to advance these efforts.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Abdulhakim Elwaer, Assistant Director-General and FAO Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa, reaffirmed FAO’s commitment to addressing the critical challenges posed by FLW in the NENA region.

"In the Near East and North Africa region, around 15 percent of food produced is lost between the post-harvest and pre-retail stages, posing a significant challenge to food security and economic development," Dr. Elwaer said.

He also highlighted the far-reaching consequences of FLW, which contributes to 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions and exacerbates climate change, food insecurity, and economic instability. Dr. Elwaer stressed the importance of joint efforts across sectors, particularly in regions facing food insecurity due to conflict and resource scarcity, and underscored FAO’s continued work with partners to strengthen food systems and reduce losses.

Rolle Rosa, Senior Enterprise Development Officer in FAO’s Food and Nutrition Division, highlighted the FAO’s work on identifying the causes of FLW and their environmental and economic impacts. Rosa also discussed the methodology for estimating FLW and showcased FAO’s circular approaches, which include prevention, reuse, redistribution, and transformation.

Moustapha Mohamed, Food Safety and Quality Officer and Regional FLW Focal Point, provided an overview of FLW reduction efforts in the NENA region, discussing the priority needs and requirements outlined in the “Guidelines for Action on FLW Reduction in the Near East and North Africa” and highlighted the importance of policy support for adopting FLW prevention and reduction practices and fostering the development of a circular economy. Mohamed outlined the foundational pillars of FAO's regional programmatic approach to FLW reduction, including data collection, regulatory policy support, awareness-raising, and private sector engagement.

The event featured discussions on successful case studies from Jordan, Tunisia, and Egypt. These countries presented a range of strategies for reducing FLW, including circular economy projects, composting training, and national awareness campaigns.

Luciana Delgado Otero, Technical Adviser at FAO, introduced the FAO Food Loss App (FLAPP), a digital tool designed to measure and track food losses along the supply chain. This app aims to help countries collect data more effectively and develop targeted actions to reduce food loss, particularly in the post-harvest stages.

UNEP’s Regional Climate Coordinator, Tarek Alkhoury, and Sarah Asmar, UNEP ROWA Program Management Officer introduced the “Recipe for Change” initiative, which aims to halve food waste by 2030. UNEP participants highlighted the campaign's early success in reducing food waste by up to 65% in hotels across the Middle East, emphasizing the need for continued efforts to scale up sustainable practices.

Nada El Agizy, from LAS, showcased its role in advancing legal frameworks, including a draft law for Arab nations to support FLW reduction. Dr. Wadid Erian, Senior Advisor for Sustainable Development at LAS, led a session on the causes of FLW in the region and highlighted LAS’s efforts with partners to drive actionable outcomes among member states. The LAS’s upcoming MA'AN initiative also aims to foster investment in sustainable food systems, highlighting the importance of cross-border collaboration and legal mechanisms to support these efforts.

The day’s sessions concluded with a call to action from FAO’s Senior Economist, Ahmad Mukhtar, who proposed intensifying collaboration across the region. He highlighted the importance of collective actions, such as expanding initiatives like ‘Recipe for Change’ and improving the legal framework for FLW that are essential steps forward. Next steps include expanding the FLAPP app to Arabic and French and developing targeted actions in key countries.

As the world moves closer to the 2030 deadline for halving food waste, FAO, UNEP, and LAS are committed to driving sustainable food systems and ensuring that the region takes bold steps to reduce FLW, benefiting both the environment and the people who depend on these systems for their livelihoods. This year’s IDAFLW serves as a reminder that the battle against food loss and waste continues. FAO remains dedicated to building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable agrifood systems in the NENA region, aligned with the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 12.3.