FEBA supports the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (IDAFLW) to be observed for the fourth time on 29 September 2023.

This year the IDAFLW makes a clear call to action for public and private entities to take action to reduce food loss and waste (FLW) towards transforming agrifood systems to contribute to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda.

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The UN recognises the importance of reducing food loss and waste. On 19 December 2019, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 74/209 proclaiming an International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste.

The IDAFLW will be held at a time when the global economy faces tremendous strain from climate change, conflicts, slowdowns and downturns and high food prices exacerbated by the COVDI-19 pandemic and the on-going war in Ukraine. Action is required to transform agrifood systems globally, to improve their resilience, efficiency, sustainability and inclusiveness in ways that positively impact food security, enable healthy diets, and contribute to better nutritional outcomes. Reducing food loss and waste contributes to enhancing the sustainability and resilience of our agrifood systems (FAO,2021).

In observance of the fourth International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, the FAO is organising a global virtual event taking place on Thursday, 29 September 2023 at 15:45 CET.

Register to participate in the virtual event

The European Commission welcomes this initiative and joins FAO, UNEP, and other relevant organisations in the global call to action against food loss and waste.

Reducing food loss and waste is an integral part of the EU Farm to Fork Strategy for a fair, healthy, and environmentally friendly food system.

To accelerate the EU’s progress towards this goal, the Commission proposed that, by 2030, Member States reduce food waste by 10%, in processing and manufacturing, and by 30% (per capita), jointly at retail and consumption (restaurants, food services and households).

Food waste has a huge impact on the environment, accounting for about 16% of Greenhouse Gas emissions from the EU food system. In the EU, if food waste were a Member State, it would be the 5th largest emitter of Greenhouse Gas emissions.

If food waste is reduced in line with the food waste reduction targets proposed by the European Commission, a 4-person household would save on average about €400 per year. Find out how to reduce food waste in daily life.

In the EU, approximately 10% of all food supplied to retail, food services and households is wasted, while around 37 million people cannot afford a quality meal every second day.

Reducing consumer food waste is a shared responsibility. Actors at all levels need to be involved: governments, farmers and food businesses, non-governmental organisations, research and academic institutions and consumers.

EU citizens care about food waste and its impacts! Read the recommendations of the European Citizens’ Panel.

On 29 September in Brussels, you can join the IDAFLW dedicated in-person public event ”Réagir, Agir et Réduire” held by the European Commission and the UN regional office in Brussels. A number of activities will take place, including a “debate” on food waste with stakeholders and representatives of civil society, a zero waste and “recycled” food cooking demonstration, and a screening of a fiction film related to food.

REGISTER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ON-SITE EVENT

If you have questions, you can contact us at 29september@eurofoodbank.org