On September 29, 2024, the world will observe the fifth International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (IDAFLW). Designated by the United Nations General Assembly, this day is co-convened by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The day aims to raise awareness about the critical issue of food waste and promote solutions at every level. The importance of this observance cannot be overstated, as food loss and waste have far-reaching consequences on global food security, economic stability, and environmental sustainability.
This blog will explore the significance of IDAFLW, the impact of food loss and waste, and discuss key strategies to mitigate these challenges, while also highlighting how the CrackSense project contributes to these global efforts.
The Origins of IDAFLW
IDAFLW was first observed in 2020, following a 2019 resolution by the United Nations General Assembly to tackle the growing issue of food waste. The primary objective of this initiative is to support efforts towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 12.3, which aims to halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels by 2030 and significantly reduce food losses along the production and supply chains. Through this observance, the global community acknowledges the urgent need for collective action in the fight against food loss and waste.
The Problem of Food Loss and Waste
Despite producing enough food to nourish everyone on the planet, millions still suffer from hunger and malnutrition. The loss and waste of food along supply chains exacerbate this issue, diminishing the amount of food available for consumption and contributing to food insecurity worldwide. The most vulnerable are often impacted, as highly nutritious foods such as fruits, vegetables, animal products, and fish—items that are perishable and prone to waste—are frequently lost.
The problem is not just about hunger but also involves substantial economic and environmental losses. Food waste represents wasted labour, energy, and resources used in production, processing, and distribution. Furthermore, food that ends up in landfills generates methane, a potent greenhouse gas, contributing between 8 to 10 percent of total agrifood system emissions and accelerating climate change.
- In 2021, approximately 13 percent of food (equivalent to 931 million tonnes) was lost in the supply chain after harvest but before reaching retail shelves (FAO, 2023).
- In 2022, an estimated 1.05 billion tonnes of food were wasted at the household, food service, and retail levels, amounting to 132 kilograms per capita (UNEP, 2024), underscoring the urgent need for immediate and sustained efforts to reverse these trends.
Strategies to Reduce Food Loss and Waste
Reducing food loss and waste requires a multi-faceted approach, combining technological innovations, policy changes, and consumer behaviour shifts. Some key strategies include:
- Technological Enhancements in Post-Harvest Handling and Storage: One of the main reasons for food loss, particularly in developing regions, is inadequate post-harvest management. Improvements in storage, treatment, and distribution can significantly reduce the spoilage of perishable goods. Technological solutions like advanced refrigeration, packaging innovations, and humidity control systems can extend the shelf life of produce and other food items.
- Targeted Interventions in Production Practices: Adjusting agricultural and food production practices to match demand can help prevent overproduction and the resulting waste. Precision farming techniques that use data to optimise the use of resources such as water and fertilisers can reduce waste at the source.
- Information Dissemination and Education Campaigns: Raising awareness at the consumer and industry levels is critical. Education campaigns on food waste reduction, food storage techniques, and portion control can inspire behavioural changes that lead to less food waste in households and the retail sector.
- Circular Economy Practices: Encouraging circular economy principles, where waste is minimised, and the life cycle of products is extended, can have a significant impact. Surplus food can be redirected to feed the hungry or turned into other valuable products such as compost or bioenergy.
CrackSense: Solutions for Reducing Yield Loss
As mentioned above, precision farming techniques play a crucial role in optimising resource use and improving crop resilience. The CrackSense project exemplifies this approach by addressing the issue of fruit cracking, a peel disorder that limits fruit quality and yield, primarily during the pre-harvest stage.
CrackSense focuses on crops like citrus, pomegranate, table grapes, and sweet cherries, conducting experiments and pilots across two continents and by developing and upscaling advanced sensing technologies. The project aims to provide real-time sensor data which will be integrated into EU-wide datasets that encompass Earth Observation Data from programs like Copernicus, reflecting critical environmental conditions.
The real-time monitoring capabilities offered by CrackSense will enable farmers and growers to effectively assess cracking incidence risk at multiple levels — fruit, tree, field, and regional and aims to help reduce the yield losses due to cracking by up to 50%, thus contributing to the overall sustainability of agricultural practices and FAO goals focusing on responsible consumption and production and zero hunger.
Moreover, the CrackSense project highlights the importance of fostering collaborations among partners to deliver state-of-the-art solutions directly to end users. Through these innovative interventions and technologies and development of the online Decision Support System, CrackSense aims to create a model that can be replicated across other agricultural crops, ultimately contributing to global efforts in reducing food loss and waste.
Conclusion
Reducing food loss and waste is essential for building a more sustainable, secure, and resilient global food system. Through innovative strategies like precision farming and projects like CrackSense, we can address the challenges that threaten food security and environmental sustainability.
Stay tuned to our Newsroom and LinkedIn page for the latest advancements in agricultural technology and solutions.
References
European Commission. (2024). International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste. Retrieved from https://food.ec.europa.eu/safety/food-waste/international-day-awareness-food-loss-and-waste_en
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2024). International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste 2024. Retrieved from https://www.fao.org/platform-food-loss-waste/flw-events/international-day-food-loss-and-waste/en
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2024). Global Facts on Food Loss and Waste 2024. Retrieved from https://sfcs.fao.org/docs/foodlosswastelibraries/default-document-library/idaflw24_global-facts_ene65d82ff-7e49-4d70-8d54-d39ab70595a6.pdf?sfvrsn=2d3aaca3_1
