On 29 September 2020 we celebrate the First International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (IDAFLW).
The UN General Assembly, on the 19th of December 2019, designated 29 September as the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (A/RES/74/209).
Globally, around 14% of food produced is lost between harvest and retail. Significant quantities are also wasted in retail and at the consumption level. When food is lost or wasted, all the resources that were used to produce it -, 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.
Through this resolution the UNGA aims at raising awareness on the importance of the problem and its possible solutions at all levels. It also aims at promoting global efforts and collective action towards meeting the Sustainable Development Goal Target 12.3, which targets to halve per capita food waste at the retail and consumer level by 2030, and reduce food losses along the food production and supply chains.
Reducing food loss and waste can bring about benefits to society as a whole and can result in:
- increased food availability to the most vulnerable
- reduced GHG emissions
- decreased pressure on land and water resources
- improved productivity and economic growth
Tackling food loss and waste is, therefore, essential to increase the efficiency in the way our food is produced, distributed and consumed.
A global virtual celebration for the day is open to anybody. Click on the First IDAFLW Event to register.
For more information click here
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