International day of awareness of food loss and waste (IDAFLW) Global Event

On 29 September 2020, the first ever observance of the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (IDAFLW) was celebrated. It came during the global COVID-19 pandemic, that has brought about a global wake-up on the need to transform and rebalance the way our food is produced and consumed.

Maximo Torero, FAO Chief economist and Rosa Rolle, FAO Senior officer, in occasion of the IDAFLW illustrated the food loss and waste issues, solutions and call for action in two video messages.

Reducing food losses and waste is essential in a world where the number of people affected by hunger has been slowly on the rise since 2014, and tons and tons of edible food are lost and/or wasted every day. Food loss and waste also puts unnecessary pressure on the natural resource base and on the environment, depleting the natural resource base and generating greenhouse gases.

A virtual event reaching out more than 1,200 participants, offered a broad discussion and generated feedback from all over the world. Food loss and waste must be reduced for greater food security and environmental sustainability.

A video message from Chef José Andrés, testimonial of the event reached the hearth of all of us.

The event was webstreamed and is available for those who could not participate  or the ones who would like to live it again at the following link: http://www.fao.org/webcast/home/en/item/5359/icode/

A photo stream of all the events undertaken around the world is available here.

Ms Rosa Rolla has delievred several interviews in occasion of the IDAFLW, including to Radio ORF (podcast can be listed here). An article titled "An international day to raise awareness on food waste" can be accessed in the Renewable Matter International Magazine on the Bioeconomy and the Circular Economy.

Visit the IDAFLW dedicated website to access information and records of the worldwide celebration or consult our IDAFLW outreach report.