Tackling food loss and waste as a lever for a better food future for all

At the celebration of the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste at the UN in New York, innovators share ICT solutions that reduce food loss and waste and contribute to better nutrition and better environment  

30 September, New York – Yesterday marked the second annual International Day of Awareness on Food Loss and Waste, a timely opportunity on the heels of the UN Food Systems Summit last week, so as to fuel the momentum to transform our agri-food systems and pay much needed attention to food loss and waste as a global dilemma with far-reaching repercussions.

To celebrate the observance at the UN in New York, FAO, ITU and UNEP, and the Permanent Missions of Andorra and San Marino to the UN, convened an interactive dialogue on the power of ICTs and innovation to combat both the root causes and the ripple effects of food loss and waste, featuring the participation of four inspiring innovators from Uganda, Nigeria, India and the Netherlands. The virtual event was also part of the World Summit Information Society’s WSIS TalkX to highlight different stakeholders’ efforts on ICTs for development. 

Opening the event were the Permanent Representatives of Andorra and of San Marino to the UN, in their capacities as co-sponsors of the resolution that gave rise to an international day on awareness of food loss and waste two years ago.

“It is our responsibility to find ways of changing individual attitudes, behaviours, consumption and shopping habits related to food for the people, and for the planet," said Ambassador Elisenda Vives Balmaña of Andorra. Read her full statement here.

“We believe that it is fundamental that Governments, the private sector and NGOs continue to work together to raise awareness of the value of food and the serious risks of food loss and waste and also to actively involve citizens in the promotion of sustainable development models,” added Ambassador Damiano Beleffi of San Marino. Read his full statement here. 

Also providing opening remarks, ITU Deputy Director-General Malcolm Johnson underscored how “information and communication technologies can help improve how food is grown, produced, supplied, consumed and disposed of”.

Losing and wasting food while millions go hungry: a moral imperative and a call to innovate

FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torero delivered a keynote presentation on combatting food loss and waste through innovation.

“Food loss and waste impact the sustainability of food systems by inducing economic losses and reducing return on investments, impeding development and hindering social progress, and negatively impacting the environment,” Torero said.

The Chief Economist called for and praised “innovations along the food chain that create new products, services business models and technologies,” which remain key to reducing the scourge of food loss and waste, not only helping us work towards SDG Target 12.3, but towards a Zero Hunger world altogether.

“Reducing food loss and waste has the potential to generate triple wins to address the multidimensional nature of hunger, by increasing access to healthy diets, efficiently using natural resources, and reducing impacts on the environment,” Torero stressed.

Showcasing the power of innovative and collaborative thinking during the event’s interactive dialogue segment were (i) Timothy Laku from Bringo Fresh, a food distribution enterprise in Uganda working to establish shorter supply chains between producers, retailers and consumers; (ii) Srishti Jain Kawatra of Feeding India, the country’s largest organization fighting hunger and food wastage backed by a movement of 26 000 volunteers across over 185 Indian cities; (iii) Oscar Ekponimo of Chowberry Inc in Nigeria, whose app-based technologies help connect retailers with organizations who feed the hungry, offering discounted food inventories that would otherwise go to waste; and (iv) Richard Beks, of Orbisk in the Netherlands, who uses artificial intelligence and image recognition technologies to help commercial kitchens take stock of their food waste footprint.

Closing the event, Jamil Ahmad, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs at UNEP in New York, stressed the urgency to act to reach SDG 12.3. He added that a reduction in food waste “would also slow the destruction of nature and decrease our carbon footprint”. 

The event was moderated by Robin Zuercher, ITU Programme Officer.

Related links

• Watch the recording.
• Read the statements delivered during the event from representatives of the Permanent Missions to the UN of China and Chile.
• Join FAO’s community of practice on food loss and waste or visit the dedicated website for the international day.
• Don’t miss the interview with Rosa Rolle, FAO Senior Enterprise Development Officer and expert on food loss and waste prevention.