Each year, on 29 September, the international community comes together to recognize the importance of sustainable food production for food security and nutrition. This day, known as the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, serves as a reminder to take action to reduce food loss and waste in order to transform agrifood systems.
Data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) shows that in 2022, between 691 and 783 million people were facing hunger, with a mid-range of 735 million (FAO, 2023). At the same time, it is estimated that 13% of the world’s food is lost in the supply chain from post-harvest prior to retail (FAO, 2022), and a further 17% of food is wasted in households, food services and in retail (UNEP, 2021).
By cutting down on food loss and waste, we can increase the availability of food, help to ensure food security, promote healthy diets, and build resilience. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has set a goal to halve per-capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains (SDG 12, target 12.3).
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