FAO supports NENA countries in reducing food loss and waste with new guidelines for action

Cairo, Egypt – As part of its efforts towards a just transition to more sustainable, resilient and efficient production and consumption patterns and reducing demand on our natural resources, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has published new guidelines for action on food loss and waste (FLW) reduction in the Near East and North Africa (NENA).

The guidelines provide regionally tailored and relevant guidance to NENA countries to implement the Voluntary Code of Conduct for FLW Reduction in line with Agenda 2030 and their national agrifood system objectives. It provides a basis for developing national strategies, policies, and legislation enabling food loss and waste reduction among NENA countries.

“Food loss and waste reflects the inefficiency and unsustainability of agrifood systems, with negative impacts on the economy, food security and nutrition, and the environment,” said Ahmed Mukhtar, Senior Economist at FAO’S Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa. “Reducing FLW across the agrifood system can generate employment, increase incomes, support healthier diets, and increase resilience to climate risks and socioeconomic shocks. It is an important entry-point for transitioning to more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems and accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals,” Mukhtar added.

This came during an online webinar today where FAO presented the new guidelines to stakeholders involved in the consultation process and to the wider community of experts, practitioners, and policy makers in NENA working to address FLW. Invited speakers shared their best practices and experiences on actions to drive real change in FLW reduction for agrifood system transformation.

The guidelines offer a framework of action tailored to the NENA region with five enablers and three action areas as a holistic and integrated approach to developing policies leading to FLW reduction. The three main action areas are: i) strengthening policy, regulation, and institutional frameworks; ii) measuring, assessing, and monitoring FLW and reduction solutions, iii) and promoting good practices along the supply chain. Led by governments, the framework enables and ensures a participatory and multi-stakeholder process that maximizes the ownership and engagement of actors across all sectors and disciplines relevant to FLW at national and subnational levels. The guidelines integrate a high-level coordination mechanism, taking charge of developing and implementing the national FLW strategy and action plan and ensuring policy coherence and accountability.

“These guidelines were designed as a practical tool for NENA countries seeking to address food loss and waste and facilitate transformative changes in their agrifood systems,” explained Maryam Rezaei, Agro-Industry Officer at FAO’S Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa. “We are looking forward to the next steps and keen to work closely with member countries, as well as regional institutions, resource partners, and stakeholders across the region to put the guidelines into practice.”

During the webinar, FAO also presented its new website developed to support networking and sharing knowledge, experience and good practices that aims to amplify the FLW reduction efforts of stakeholders across the NENA region.