Food loss and waste is one of the biggest contributors to climate change

Did you know that food loss and waste
is one of the biggest contributors to climate change?
Today, our agrifood systems are broken.
Hunger, food insecurity, obesity
and undernourishment are rising.
And yet, the way we produce
and consume food
is resulting in high rates
of food loss and waste.
Every year, around 14% of the world's food
is lost after harvest
and in the distribution chain
prior to retail.
And an additional 17% of food
available to consumers is wasted.
Food loss and waste account for 8 to 10%
of the world's greenhouse gas emissions.
In a number of countries,
the food supply
chain is on course
to overtake farming and land use
as the largest contributor
of greenhouse gases.
Carbon dioxide is generated
at every step of the food supply system,
from production to handling,
transportation, storage and distribution,
regardless of whether the food produced
is consumed or not,
leaving a significant carbon footprint.
In particular,
the rotting of food waste in landfills
and open dumps is adding considerably
to greenhouse gas emissions,
each year, producing around
49 million tonnes of methane.
This is a potent greenhouse gas
that has 84 times the warming power
of carbon dioxide,
over a 20-year period.
Greenhouse gases contribute
to an unstable climate
prone to drastic environmental change
and extreme weather events.
These unstable climate conditions
negatively impact crop yields,
reduce the nutritional quality of crops,
disrupt supply chains,
and threaten food security.
But the impacts of food loss and waste
extend beyond this.
Across the world,
around 3.1 billion people
cannot access a healthy diet,
and an estimated 828 million people
go hungry every day
while the food they need
is lost or wasted.
Truly resilient agrifood systems
must be able to anticipate,
prevent, adapt and transform
in the face of any disruption,
protecting food security,
livelihoods and nutrition for all.
Reducing food loss and waste
plays a key role in transforming
agrifood systems.
It can improve productivity
and ensure natural resources
are used more efficiently,
contributing to economic growth
and benefiting society as a whole.
It can increase food availability and access,
protect the income of farmers
and smallholders,
and contribute to improving
dietary quality.
Reducing food loss and waste can also help
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
It’s one of the most impactful climate solutions
we have today.
Everyone can contribute to reducing
food loss and waste.
Let’s all work together to reduce
food loss and waste
and strengthen agrifood systems,
for better production, better nutrition,
a better environment,
and a better life for all.

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