Reduction of post-harvest losses in horticultural chains in SAARC countries
Agricultural systems in SAARC countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) are dominated by smallholder farmers. Post-harvest losses in fruits and vegetables are high, ranging from between 20 and 44 percent. These high levels of losses are largely the outcome of improper handling, transportation and packaging, poor storage and weak basic and post-harvest specific infrastructure, and result in seriously diminished returns to producers while reducing the net availability of these food commodities for consumption. + READ MORE
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Launch of the FAO Policy Support and Governance Portal
FAO is committed to strengthen its policy work and impact. This is essential to achieve the transformational changes required by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the FAO Strategic Framework. The FAO Policy Portal is part of this commitment. FAO’s approach to prevent and reduce food loss and waste is driven by the broader vision of sustainable food systems and food and nutrition security for all. + READ MORE
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Conflicts and protracted crises hamper progress made to end hunger in the Near East and North Africa
Food security and nutrition levels in the Near East and North Africa have sharply deteriorated over the last five years, undermining the steady improvement achieved before 2010 when the prevalence of undernourishment, stunting, anaemia and poverty were decreasing, a new FAO report stated. "Sustainable agriculture and water management should include strategies and policies to improve irrigation efficiency, establish sustainable ground water management, promote incentives for farmers to shift to crops with higher economic returns per drop, cut food losses and waste, and enhance the resilience of vulnerable populations and farmers to climate-induced shocks," said Abdessalam Ould Ahmed, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa. + READ MORE
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World’s future food security “in jeopardy” due to multiple challenges, report warns
The world will need to shift to more sustainable food systems which make more efficient use of land, water and other inputs, and sharply reduce the use of fossil fuels, which will bring about a drastic cut in agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, greater conservation of biodiversity, and a reduction of waste. This will necessitate more investment in agriculture and agrifood systems, as well as greater spending on research and development, the report says, to promote innovation, support sustainable production increases, and find better ways to cope with issues like water scarcity and climate change. + READ MORE
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How access to energy can influence food losses
The report begins by reviewing the evidence to date, focusing on the magnitude and geographical distribution of food losses. Subsequent sections describe the role of energy in post-harvest losses. Thereafter, the main entry points within the food value chain – where lack of access to energy is the dominant factor influencing food losses – are discussed. Recommendations are made that could be incorporated to further develop food loss strategies that can classify food value chains based on their energy demand. . + READ MORE
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IV International Conference on Post-Harvest and Quality Management of Horticultural Products of Interest for Tropical Regions
Horticulture plays a key role in world agriculture. Improper quality management during cultivation and post-harvest procedures in developing countries result in losses that amount to more than 50 percent for perishable horticultural crops. The IV International Conference on Post-Harvest and Quality Management of Horticultural Products of Interest for Tropical Regions (PQMHP 2017), which will be held from 6 to 8 April 2017, in Kandy, Sri Lanka, presents a unique platform to present all the work done by researchers pertinent to the above topic. + READ MORE
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CELAC Plan for Food Security, Nutrition and Hunger Eradication
CELAC's (Comunidad de Estados Latinoamericanos y Caribeños) Food Security Plan is based on pillars aiming at guaranteeing the four dimensions of food security: food access, availability, use and stability; coordinated strategies for food security through national and regional public policies. Countries will strengthen their legal and institutional food security frameworks, facilitate trade, avoid losses and food waste and encourage procurement programmes. + READ MORE
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Waste: boost recycling, cut landfilling and curb food waste, Parliament says European Parliament News
After 51 organizations and 64,000 people in the EU backed a campaign to reduce food waste, on 14 March MEPs voted in support of a 50 percent reduction by 2030. The MEPs voted on four waste-management directives, but focused mainly on that accumulated by households and small firms, which accounts for 8 percent of all waste. + READ MORE
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250 workers in food industry receive training to prevent waste The Jordan Times
More than 250 workers in food cultivation, handling and retailing in Jordan have been trained in reducing food loss throughout the supply chain. The training was part of a two-year project implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Jordan’s Ministry of Agriculture, with the aim of building the capacity of workers in the agricultural sector to reduce food loss. + READ MORE
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How food packaging is good for the environment The Economist
Supermarkets encourage shoppers to buy products through clever layouts and cunning promotions. But some forms of packaging, especially for meat, can be an environmental boon. Taken together, greenhouse gas emissions from food waste are higher than those of India, Brazil or Saudi Arabia, because chucking out items means the water, fuel, fertilizer and other inputs that went into them are wasted too. Such harm to the planet can be reduced if the length of time that food lingers on shelves or in fridges can be extended. Packaging is a part of that strategy. + READ MORE
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Canada's 2017 Food Loss and Waste Forum - Finding Solutions Mississauga, Canada, 12 April 2017 This premier event will bring together leaders in food loss and waste from across Canada's food value chain.
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The Nordic Food Waste Prevention Conference 2017 Oslo, Norway, 27 April 2017 Working together to fight food waste: UN's Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 and UNEP's work with prevention of food waste is part of the Programme.
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ZERO WASTE FOOD conference dedicated to eliminating food waste NYC, United States, 28 – 29 April 2017 The New School and the Institute of Culinary Education (ICE) have partnered to roll out the Zero Waste Food conference to focus on how we can discover better methods for the way we produce, distribute, consume and dispose of food in the environments where we cook and where we eat.
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SAVE FOOD Congress 2017 Düsseldorf, Germany, 4 – 10 May 2017 At the international SAVE FOOD Congress on 4 May 2017 speakers from business, science and political spheres and civil society will get together to shed some light on the various facets of the food waste problem.
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Feeding the 5000 LA Los Angeles, California, 4 May 2017 Hosted by Feedback and LA Kitchen, with support from The Rockefeller Foundation, and joined by organizations fighting food waste and hunger across the city including LA Food Policy Council, Food Forward, Food Finders, Kiss the Ground and Waste Not Want Not Now.
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REFRESH Food Waste 2017 Berlin, Germany 18 – 19 May 2017 Multi-stakeholder conference connecting champions of food waste reduction and valorisation.
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