International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste
29 September
The 2nd Observance of the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste taking place on 29 September 2021 will make a clear call to action for both the public (national or local authorities) and the private sector (businesses and individuals), to prioritise actions and move ahead with innovation to reduce food loss and waste towards restoring and building back better and resilient-ready, food systems.
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This year, the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste is linked to the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables 2021.
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Respect food from farm to table
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Fruits and vegetables are worth more than their price. Maintaining their quality and assuring their safety across the supply chain, from production to consumption, reduces loss and waste and increases their availability for consumption.
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Innovate, cultivate, reduce food loss and waste
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Innovation, improved technologies and infrastructure are critical to increase efficiency and productivity in fruit and vegetable supply chains to reduce loss and waste.
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Why is it important to reduce food loss and waste?
Globally, around 14 percent of food produced is lost between harvest and retail, while an estimated 17 percent of total global food production is wasted (11 percent in households, 5 percent in the food service and 2 percent in retail).
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Food loss and waste undermine the sustainability of our food systems. When food is loss or wasted, all the resources that were used to produce this food -, including water, land, energy, labour and capital - go to waste. In addition, the disposal of food loss and waste in landfills, leads to greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change. Food loss and waste can also negatively impact food security and food availability, and contribute to increasing the cost of food.
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Our food systems cannot be resilient if they are not sustainable. Hence the need to focus on the adoption of integrated approaches designed to reduce food loss and waste. Actions are required globally and locally to maximise the use of the food we produce. The introduction of technologies, innovative solutions (including e-commerce platforms for marketing, retractable mobile food processing systems), new ways of working and good practices to manage food quality and reduce food loss and waste are key to implementing this transformative change.
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With nine years left to reach SDG goal 12, target 12.3; there is an urgent need to accelerate action to reduce food loss and waste.
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Stop food loss and waste.
For the people.
For the planet.
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#FLWDay #fightfoodwastecrc #stopfoodwasteaustralia #savefoodpackaging
