JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 28 September, 2021: The United Nation’s (UN) second International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, taking place on 29 September this year, recognises the critically important role that sustainable food production plays in promoting global food security and nutrition.

Ziad Al Bawaliz

Around the world, food loss and waste accounts for approximately eight per cent of the global greenhouse gas emissions, annually. If this was its own country, it would be the world’s third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases[1]. It also costs the global economy USD 940 billion each year[2] – and yet we do already have some of the answers already at our disposal.

Through the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, the UN issues a clear call to action for both public authorities and private entities to strengthen the efforts made towards reducing this misuse of food, as well as to ensure global food security for all, particularly considering the additional pressures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

These objectives are in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 12, target 12.3, which specifically aims to halve per-capita global food waste at retail and consumer levels, and reduce food loss along the entire supply chain, by 2030[3].

In fact, one of the key messages of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 12, as outlined in target 12.A, is the importance of increasing the efficiency of our food systems through investment in innovation, technologies, and infrastructure[4].

The South African government, to cite an example, is a signatory to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, committing to making efforts to meet them, and it will be looking to local businesses along the entire food supply chain to help reach the planned target.

Available cold chain technology can reduce food loss by up to 40%, as packing, storing and transporting perishables at the right temperature extends their lifetime and ensures that resources are no longer wasted in the food supply before they reach our supermarkets[1].

Acknowledging the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste will assist in the efforts towards achieving Zero Hunger, as well as in the fight against climate change.

[1] https://www.danfoss.com/en/about-danfoss/news/cf/cutting-food-loss-today-is-everybodys-opportunity/

[1] https://www.danfoss.com/en/about-danfoss/news/cf/cutting-food-loss-today-is-everybodys-opportunity/

[2] https://www.danfoss.com/en/about-danfoss/news/cf/cutting-food-loss-today-is-everybodys-opportunity/

[3] https://www.futurefoodsystems.com.au/event/international-day-of-awareness-on-food-loss-and-waste-reduction/

[4] https://sdg-tracker.org/sustainable-consumption-production