International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste

The 2020 Global Nutrition Report: Action on equity to end malnutrition called on governments, business and civil society to tackle injustices in food systems to bring about faster and fairer progress towards ending malnutrition in all its forms.

The observance of the first International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (IDAFLW) on 29 September 2020 will make a clear call to action for both the public (national or local authorities) and the private (businesses and individuals) sectors to bolster efforts to reduce food loss and waste towards ensuring food security for all and particularly the most vulnerable, impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Few issues have generated as much public interest in recent years as food loss and waste. But why is it important to reduce food loss and waste? Simply put, 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
• a reduction in GHG emissions
• reduced pressure on land and water resources
• increased productivity and economic growth.