Food Loss Related News
Food loss reduction innovations showcased at Expo Dubai 2020
21/09/2021
The World Food Day 2021 was the first International Day to be celebrated on 16 October at Expo Dubai, which runs from 1 October to 31 March 2022. The UN Secretary General disseminated a message thorugh social media "the way we produce, consume and waste our food is a heavy toll in our pla...
Driving food loss and waste reduction through innovation
02/02/2021
2021 is the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables (IYFV)
01/02/2021
The UN General Assembly designated 2021 the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables (IYFV). This is being launched officially on 15th December. Stay tuned! we will communicate soon details for participation.
The IYFV 2021 is a unique opportunity to raise awareness on the important role of fruits and vegetables in human nutrition, food security and health and as well in achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The International Year of Fruits and Vegetables 2021 was officially launched by the Director General of FAO
16/12/2020
AGRITECHNICA ASIA: “Post-harvest Loss Briefing: Technologies and Management”
01/12/2020
The Agritechnica Asia and Horti Asia digital talk about Post-Harvest Losses, which took place in late November, addressed the avoidance of losses by improved process management and handling of crops as well as opportunities to fund collaborative projects to introduce new technologies.
Agro-processors training organized by CARDI in Grenada
19/11/2020
Japan collects and shares good practices to accelerate actions for food loss and waste reduction
10/09/2020
COVID-19 Series / Improving the Storability and Availability of Pulses by Reducing Post-Harvest Losses
20/04/2020
COVID-19 Series / Tips for the Preservation of Fruits and Vegetables to Reduce Food Waste and Improve Shelf-Life
06/04/2020
With physical distancing and reduced shopping trips to supermarkets, buying large quantities of fresh fruits and vegetables becomes difficult, with the risk of them going to waste, during this COVID-19 pandemic. There are, however, simple ways in which fruits and vegetables can be preserved at home to reduce waste. Many vegetables, can be blanched by dipping in boiling water for approximately 5 minutes and then pickled and fermented. Fruits can be preserved by blanching and freezing, juicing, drying, frying, or preserved with sugar into jams and fruit preserves.
Root crops and bananas can be fried to produce chips.
Lessons from the SDC capitalization of experiences exercise on PHM Programs in SSA
30/03/2020
Technical webinar - Sustainable food systems and nutrition: Food post-harvest losses
24/03/2020
Global launch of SOFA 2019 "Moving forward on food loss and waste reduction"
10/10/2019
The State of Food and Agriculture 2019 (SOFA) launched at a press conference with the Director-General and Maximo Torero (ADG-ES), on Monday, 14 October at 12:00 in the Sheikh Zayed Centre is about Moving forward on food loss and waste reduction. It provides in...
2nd All Africa Postharvest Congress and Exhibition
21/08/2019
September 17th – 20th, 2019 at the African Union Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Postharvest Loss Reduction and Agro-processing: Drivers of Agricultural Transformation in Africa
Acknowledging the urgent need to address this global challenge, the University of Nairobi and a co...
Government of Uganda, FAO, WFP, IFAD for the development of a comprehensive strategy to reduce PHL in grains
31/05/2019
Kampala - Key agriculture stakeholders in Uganda have commended national efforts towards addressing food and nutrition insecurity as well as increasing national income through strategies to reduce post-harvest losses in grains. The vote of confidence in the government was made...
SFS WEBINAR: Promoting partnerships and synergies for food loss and waste reduction
11/09/2018
The 10YFP is a global commitment that was adopted at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in 2012, in response to the need to accelerate the shift towards sustainable consumption and production (SCP) in both developed and developing countries. The One Planet networ...
Training of Trainers on FAO Food Loss Analysis methodology
31/05/2018
FAO is organizing a series of Training of Trainers (TOT) to enhance the knowledge and skills of professionals and institutions, through collaboration with institutions, to implement the FAO Food Loss Analysis methodology in order to support evidence-based food losses reduction strategies and policy at national and regional levels.
Bellagio Statement on Post-harvest Management
26/03/2018
Low-cost cold storage technologies to boost farmers resilience and income
01/03/2018
High level Ministerial Dialogue to Support Post-Harvest Losses Reduction and Agro-Processing (PHAP)
19/10/2017
The African Development Bank, in collaboration with FAO, is organizing a High Level Ministerial Dialogue on Post-Harvest Losses Reduction and Agro-Processing (PHAP), to be held in Abidjan on 21-2...
UN Agencies signal the need to scale up food loss interventions
07/09/2017
Food Loss Related Publications
Reducing food loss and waste in the Near East and North Africa
28/02/2023
This study looks at FLW from an economic perspective, considering producers, intermediaries, and consumers as key decision-makers. It builds on our accumulated experience in the analysis of the causes of FLW and solutions.
Food Science and Technology Solutions to Improve Food and Nutrition Security: Reducing Food Loss & Valorizing Food Processing Side Streams
31/12/2022
In 2022, the Institute of Food Technology/Food and Nutrition Security Steering Committee hosted a virtual roundtable discussion on their first challenge, “Food Science & Technology Solutions for Reducing Food Waste and Valorizing Waste Streams” on November 1 – 2, 2022. The goal was to identify current and potential future solutions from food science and technology that can contribute to the reduction of food loss and valorization of food processing side streams.
Food Loss and Waste country profile for Vietnam
31/12/2022
An approach to allow to present an indicative country profile showing per food product category and chain stage not only the amount of FLW but also the GHGEs related to producing the FLW and induced nutrient losses. The sum differs per product and chain stage. Focusing on food products and chain stages which largely contribute to FLW, FLW-induced GHGEs and nutrient loss can substantially lead to resource use efficiency and at the same time to climate mitigation action and nutrition security.
Enabling a legal environment for the prevention and reduction of food loss and waste
31/10/2022
Regulatory measures to tackle food loss and waste (FLW) include establishing institutional mechanisms for coordination of action, allocating clear roles and responsibilities among all stakeholders involved and setting binding targets for the reduction of FLW.
Food loss analysis case study methodology | E-learning course
30/10/2022
Food loss is a complex issue, often with multiple and interrelated causes operating at different levels. This e-learning course introduces the FAO Case study methodology for the analysis of critical food loss points. This method focuses on revealing and analyzing the multidimensional causes of losses in selected food supply chains, identification of critical loss points, and recommendation of feasible food loss reduction solutions and strategies.
Food waste management and circular economy in Mediterranean cities
26/10/2022
Stakeholders from across the Mediterranean shared practical experiences of their engagement in circular economy practices for food waste management at urban/local level. Tackling food waste and circularity from diverse angles of the Mediterranean food systems, they reflected on success factors and challenges, discussing ways to facilitate partnerships and replication of solutions across the Mediterranean.
Voluntary Code of Conduct for Food Loss and Waste Reduction
20/07/2022
Following the request of the 26th Session of the Committee on Agriculture (COAG), FAO has developed the Voluntary Code of Conduct for Food Loss and Waste Reduction (CoC). The document was submitted to the FAO Conference for consideration and endorsement, and approved on 15 June 2021.
A holistic approach to food loss reduction in Africa: food loss analysis, integrated capacity development and policy implications
10/06/2022
This paper highlights the critical need for a paradigm shift of current research and development programs aimed at food loss reduction, as demonstrated by findings of a project implemented in Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda by the United Nations Rome-based Agencies (RBAs) – The Food and...
A journey into the world’s food systems in search of losses, waste and ways to solve them
01/06/2022
Wageningen University and Research (WUR) experts from numerous domains explore how high-level FLW recommendations can be translated into concrete actions, solutions, and pathways. The authors highlight new scientific insights and practice-oriented research outlining the way forward from what should happen to how this can be done to achieve more sustainable food...
Estimation of nutritional postharvest losses along food value chains: A case study of three key food security commodities in sub-Saharan Africa
01/02/2022
Postharvest losses (PHLs) amplify food insecurity and reduce the amount of nutrients available to vulnerable populations, especially in the world's Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs). However, little is known about nutrient loss at the various postharvest stages. The objective of our study was to develop a methodology and a...
Critical stages for post-harvest losses and nutrition outcomes in the value chains of bush beans and nightshade in Uganda
01/01/2022
The reduction of post-harvest losses (PHLs) has been identified as a key pathway to food and nutrition security in sub-Saharan Africa. However, despite policy prioritisation, knowledge about the severity of PHLs remains scant, especially when it comes to nutrient-dense crops such as African nightshade and bush beans.
Report of FEBA Annual Forum on Food Aid and Social Inclusion "Fruits and vegetables for human development: let’s take action!"
01/01/2022
On 14 December 2021, the European Food Banks Federation organised its Annual Forum on Food Aid and Social Inclusion with the title “Fruits and vegetables for human development: let’s take action!”. This conference is organised by FEBA together with Italmercati. On this ocassion, we bring together distinguished speakers addressing the...
Quantifying Food Loss and Waste in Saudi Arabia
23/08/2021
Based on the findings achieved, recommendations are made to cover the various aspects of the whole food supply chain (FSC) and to aim at more efficiency and higher levels of productivity. Our findings have significant implications by estimating the FLW baseline indicator and providing the different stakeholders of FSC with the optimal actions to do to reduce FLW rates.
Get Involved - International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste
21/08/2021
The International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Food Waste, observed for the second time on 29 September 2021, will make a clear call to action for both the public (national or local authorities) and the private (businesses) sectors, as well as individuals, to prioritize actions and move ahead with innovation to reduce food loss and waste towards restoring and building back better and resilient-ready, food systems.
Post-harvest loss in Mozambique - Estimating maize loss in Manica and Zambezia provinces
30/06/2021
This study, carried out by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in collaboration with the Agrifood Economics Division (ESA) at FAO, sheds light on understanding the magnitude, nature and consequences of food losses across the maize value chain in selected regions in Mozambique. In particular, the methodology used in this report allows to accurately measure food losses and identify in which segment of the value chain these food losses occur and the causes of the losses.
RBA Project brochure
29/06/2021
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROJECT “MAINSTREAMING FOOD LOSS REDUCTION INITIATIVES FOR SMALLHOLDERS IN FOOD DEFICIT AREAS” JOINTLY IMPLEMENTED BY THE UNITED NATIONS ROME-BASED AGENCIES
Coping strategies of dairy cooperatives and loss and waste reduction during the COVID-19 pandemic: the case of India and Japan
01/04/2021
Unlike any other crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted food value chains at all levels (production, processing, logistics and even consumer behaviour to name a few). The impacts vary across countries and are constantly changing with the spread of the pandemic as governments, stakeholders and other actors in value chains...
2021 Global Food Policy Report: Transforming Food Systems After COVID-19
01/01/2021
COVID-19 has upended local, national, and global food systems, and put the Sustainable Development Goals further out of reach. But lessons and momentum from the world’s response to the pandemic can contribute to food system change. In the 2021 Global Food Policy Report, IFPRI researchers and experts explore the impacts...
Food loss analyses to identify critical loss points, main causes of losses and to recommend solutions to reduce post-harvest losses
01/01/2021
The UN Rome-based agencies joint project aimed to improve smallholder food security and incomes in food deficit areas by reducing food losses. The Project contributes to the African Union Malabo Declaration (AUC, 2014) in which Member States committed to halve the levels of post-harvest losses by 2025.
Highlights of the project "Mainstreaming food loss reduction initiatives for smallholders in food deficit areas"
01/01/2021
This brochure highlights the achievements and results of a project jointly developed and implemented by the three United Nations (UN) Rome-based agencies (RBA) FAO, IFAD, and WFP from 2013 to 2020, funded by the Swiss Development and Cooperation Agency, that contributes towards the AU Malabo declaration and SDG targets for...
Food Loss Related Events
7/ 6
2016
9/6
2016
FAO regional workshop for food loss reduction strategy development in favour of smallholder producers in Africa.
Douala (Cameroon), 07/06/2016 - 09/06/2016
Doulala, Cameroon - A three-day workshop organized in the framework of the project entitled ‘Food loss reduction strategy development in favour of smallholder producers in Africa Phase 1’ will be held in Douala, Cameroun from 7 to 9 June 2016. The worksho
16/ 2
2016
17/2
2016
Webminar Series: Post-Harvest Storage Losses are easily solved - Even for Smallholder Farmers
Virtual Event, 16/02/2016 - 17/02/2016
Webminar - "seed system" organizes two webinars by Dr. Dieudonne Baributsa, Purdue University #1 on the hermetic technology : This webinar will discuss hermetic technologies for seed as well as grain storage. Hermetic technologies are airtight chemical-f
16/ 2
2016
17/2
2016
Rethinking Global Food Security Collaborative approaches to sustainable agricultural innovation - GFIA 2016
Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), 16/02/2016 - 17/02/2016
Abu Dhabi / Parallel General Session 3 - Horticulture (17 February 2016) Innovative agro-logistics to reduce post-harvest losses from farm to fork. The session will present case study material from Egypt, Morocco, Benin and Nigeria.
11/ 1
2016
13/1
2016
Postharvest Education Foundation closing workshop 2015
Jimma (Ethiopia), 11/01/2016 - 13/01/2016
Jimma, Ethiopia - The Postharvest Education Foundation will be holding a workshop in Jimma, on the campus of Jimma University. Target audience of this event are practitioners who are interested in small-scale postharvest "best practices" and planning post
4/ 12
2015
Launch of the G20 Technical Platform on the Measurement and Reduction of Food Loss and Waste
Virtual Event, 04/12/2015
Rome, Italy - During the 153rd session of FAO Council, this side event will launch the FAO and International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) Technical Platform on Food Loss and Waste and highlight knowledge and concrete steps.
1/ 12
2015
2/12
2015
Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture 2015 - Africa Edition
Durban (South Africa), 01/12/2015 - 02/12/2015
Durban, South Africa - Panel discussion: Developing agro-industry (Wednesday, December 2 / 11:45-13:15 hrs) In partnership with the African Development Bank With Africa facing huge post-harvest losses, how can the continent scale up innovations in agro-
12/ 10
2015
Side Event on Post-Harvest Management of Grains
Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), 12/10/2015
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - AFAAS is organizing a side event on post-harvest management of grains during the ‘AFAAS Second Africa Wide Agricultural Extension Week 2015’, 12 – 16 October, 2015, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Global Programme Food Security (GPFS
4/ 10
2015
7/10
2015
The First International Congress on Postharvest Loss Prevention
Rome (Italy), 04/10/2015 - 07/10/2015
The ADM Institute for the Prevention of Postharvest Loss at the University of Illinois is organizing an International Congress on "Developing Measurement Approaches and Intervention Strategies for Smallholders" to be held in Rome, Italy. This congress wi
1/ 10
2015
30/10
2015
FAO e-conference: ‘Utilization of Food Loss and Waste as well as Non-Food Parts as Livestock Feed’
Virtual Event, 01/10/2015 - 30/10/2015
From 1 to 30 October 2015, the Livestock Production Systems Branch of Animal Production and Health Division, FAO will host, as part of the “Save Food” initiative, an e-conference on "Utilization of Food Loss and Waste as well as Non-Food Parts as Lives
14/ 9
2015
25/9
2015
Course Lost Harvest and Wasted food (fellowship opportunity)
Wageningen (Netherlands), 14/09/2015 - 25/09/2015
Large contrasts exist in how we manage the food we have available. While in parts of our societies there is a shortage of food, in the urban and wealthier communities, good food is thrown away only because it is beyond its sell-by date. Optimising the ‘fa
8/ 9
2015
10/9
2015
Post-Harvest Management (PHM) /Food Loss Reduction (FLR) Workshop
Jinja (Uganda), Hybrid Event, 08/09/2015 - 10/09/2015
Jinja, Uganda - The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC - Global Cooperation/Global Programme Food Security is organizing a workshop on Post-Harvest Management (PHM) /Food Loss Reduction (FLR). Parti
13/ 8
2015
15/8
2015
3rd ISHS Southeast Asia Symposium on Quality Management in Postharvest Systems
Krong Siem Reap (Cambodia), 13/08/2015 - 15/08/2015
Siem Reap - Cambodia. The conference will be held on 13-15 August 2015 at Apsara Angkor Resort & Conference Center, Siem Reap. SEAsia2015 is organized by the Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and University of California Davis, US
20/ 7
2015
15/8
2015
PHL course by ADM Institute and Coursera
Virtual Event, 20/07/2015 - 15/08/2015
The ADM Institute's online course "Global Postharvest Loss Prevention: Fundamentals, Technologies and Actors" will be offered for a second time starting July 20. This 4-week online course is free to all and registration is now open on Coursera. Join parti
24/ 6
2015
26/6
2015
The 2015 Conference on Postharvest and Agro-Processing Extension in Africa
Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), 24/06/2015 - 26/06/2015
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia An important discussion on how Africa will reduce postharvest losses to provide more and nutritious food, and create wealth and security for its people through the development of the post-production sector of the value chain. The C
16/ 6
2015
19/6
2015
NO MORE FOOD TO WASTE – Global action to stop food losses and food waste
The Hague (Netherlands), 16/06/2015 - 19/06/2015
The Hague (Netherlands) - The Government of the Netherlands will host the Conference NO MORE FOOD TO WASTE - Global action to stop food losses and food waste from 16th to 19th of June at The World Forum in The Hague, The Netherlands. A High Level Segment
28/ 4
2015
30/4
2015
Agritech Israel 2015
Tel Aviv-Yafo (Israel), 28/04/2015 - 30/04/2015
Tel Aviv, Israel. The 19th International Agricultural - Agritech Israel 2015 is one of the world’s most important exhibitions in the field of agricultural technologies. The exhibition will be held April 28 – 30, 2015 at the Israel Trade Fairs and Convent
25/ 3
2015
27/3
2015
Dresden Nexus Conference 2015
Dresden (Germany), Hybrid Event, 25/03/2015 - 27/03/2015
FAO is organizing a seminar on “environmental resources and food losses and waste” at the Dresden Nexus Conference 2015 . The conference takes place from 25-27 March 2015 in Dresden, Germany under the heading of ”Global Change, Sustainable Development Goa
9/ 3
2015
11/3
2015
Conference on Food Losses and Waste Initiative: From Prevention to Valorisation
Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), 09/03/2015 - 11/03/2015
As the reduction of food waste must be part of a portfolio of solutions needed to feed the world more sustainably, GFIA 2015 will include a major focus on the important issues. In partnership with Wageningen UR this side event will comprise a two-day, sol
23/ 2
2015
27/2
2015
The Postharvest Education Foundation - Small scale Postharvest Handling Technologies Short Course/Study Tour
Arusha (Tanzania), 23/02/2015 - 27/02/2015
The Postharvest Education Foundation offers global postharvest e-learning programs, training materials and participatory workshops on appropriate postharvest technologies for participants in more than 15 developing countries. In association with local par
2/ 2
2015
1/3
2015
Global Postharvest Loss Prevention: Fundamentals, Technologies, and Actors. New online course
Virtual Event, 02/02/2015 - 01/03/2015
The ADM Institute for the prevention of postharvest loss of the Illinois University offers a free online course. The course provides an overview of the issue of postharvest loss of grains by exploring essential physical, technical, and social dimensions o