EGM on SDG 2: Maryam Rezaei Statement

Maryam Rezaei

Research Fellow - Food Systems, Climate and Sustainability,  ODI Global 

 

Session 10: Prosperity

The focus of intervention is on the linkages between SDG 2 and SDG 12 on sustainable production and consumption, in particular, on the issue of food loss and waste which was briefly touched on in some of the previous sessions.

Globally 14% of food is lost from farm to retail and 17% is wasted at retail and consumer level. This number varies across regions and food groups. The underlying message is FLW is a manifestation of inefficiency unsustainability and inequality of food system. Keeping this in mind we need to look at food loss and waste reduction not as an objective by itself but as a mean to transform agrifood systems to be more capable to deliver nutritious food, ensure food security, and foster economic prosperity for all. FLW reduction can be a powerful mean to enhance the ability of the small-scale family farmers and agribusiness SMEs to adapt to the impact of climate and water shocks and protect livelihoods. Many of the causes that lead to FLW were also mentioned in the contexts of SDG 2 indicators 2.3, 2.4 and others. Looking at some of those:

• poor and inadequate post-harvest transport, storage and processing capacity;
• lack of cold chain capacity, reliable power supply, good maintenance and management practices;
• inappropriate production, harvesting and handling practices;
• poor organization, coordination and communication among food supply chain actors;
• inefficient marketing systems and market infrastructure, including for recovering and repurposing FLW; and,
• poor purchase, handling, food preparation and disposal practices among food service providers and consumers.
• cultural practices including the hospitality habits and celebrations, consumers perceptions, and lack of awareness.

So we know the extent of FLW and the negative impact on sustainability of our food systems - many UN and non-UN organizations, governments and private sector have been working on tackling the issue for the past decade and we are aware that many of the causes and drivers have technology, policy, institutional or behavioural solutions. But why we have not been successful in effectively addressing FLW? What is impeding the progress towards SDG indicators 12.3? Research and consultations with stakeholders have provided us with some insights.

These are:

• Lack of holistic and integrated approach to tackle the FLW issue – Many of our interventions remain technical in nature.
• Lack of guidelines and harmonized approaches in and among countries that facilitates a shared vision, common language, joint action and cooperation - we have quite a few international guidelines that need to be tailored to the national and local contexts, including the FAO’s voluntary codes of conduct on FLW reduction.
• Need for accurate data and systematic measurement of food loss based on specific stages of the value chain and FW at consumer level, including capacity building for data collection at national and city levels. This is an expensive venture that requires funding and there is also the challenge of scarce quality data.
• Need for improving knowledge and foster investment to promote circularity, recycling and re-use which generate economic and environmental benefits.
• Need for awareness raising and advocacy efforts jointly, targeting stakeholders at all decision-making nodes in the supply chain.
• Capacity development for actors and institutions across agrifood systems to strengthen policy, technical, and managerial actions impacting FLW.

Against this background, I would like to highlight the following solutions to tackle FLW. With the caveat that for these solutions to be truly impactful or transformative, it can’t be business as usual! Governments are encouraged to lead the development of holistic national strategies and action plans, and from the outset, envisage a participatory process that maximizes the ownership of solutions and engagement of all relevant actors:

• The first solution is adopting a more holistic and inter sectorial systems approach in policy making for FLW reduction, that connects the broader economic and market systems, ecological systems, social systems, to agrifood systems.
• Recognizing the diverse and context-specific solutions to FLW that are demand-driven and reflect the reality of the country, city and the interest, needs and values of different actors.
• Public sector to provide enabling environment including fiscal incentives, infrastructure etc. that encourages private sector leadership and investment in reducing FLW including through adding value to agrifood products, valorization of waste, among other interventions.
• Drawing on science, innovation, and research, to enable innovations in agrifood systems that can be scaled, to sustainably reduce FLW.
• Strengthening policy, regulatory and institutional frameworks that facilitate coordination among stakeholders. To extent possible and where relevant anchoring food loss and waste reduction strategies in broader national strategies and action plans such as in national policies addressing food security, investment and climate change.
• Measuring, assessing, and monitoring food loss and waste to support evidence base decision making on underlying causes of FLW, solutions and to inform possible trade-offs between FLW reduction measures and other sustainability outcomes.
• Finally, addressing capacity development along the whole supply chain, taking stock, and promoting better practices which are many and incentivizing their use.