Presentation by Alexandre Meybeck, Senior Policy Officer on Agriculture, Environment and Climate Change, FAO, at the 2012 Agriculture and Rural Development Day (ARDD) in Rio de Janiero, Learning Event No. 10, Session 4: Food losses and Waste : causes and solutions. http://www.agricultureday.org

1. Global Initiative on
Food Loss and Waste reduction
Alexandre Meybeck FAO
Agriculture and Rural Development Day
Rio de Janeiro 18th June 2012

2. 60% Global Food Losses Consumption
50% Distribution
Processing
40%
Postharvest
30%
Agriculture
20%
10%
0%
cereals roots & oilseeds & fruits & meat fish & dairy
tubers pulses vegetables seafood products
FAO, 2011

3. Differences per regions
CEREALS

4. Differences per regions
FRUITS & VEGETABLES

5. Differences per regions
DAIRY PRODUCTS

6. Causes and Prevention of food losses and waste
In developing countries food
gets lost due to:
- Poor production planning
- Production problems
- Premature harvesting
Prevention:
- Organizing small farmers
- Diversifying and upscaling production and marketing
Improving the efficiency of the food supply chains

7. Causes and Prevention of food losses and waste
Poor storage facilities, packaging and lack of infrastructure
cause postharvest food losses in developing countries.
Prevention: investment in infrastructure, packaging and
transportation.

8. Causes and Prevention of food losses and waste
Unsafe food is not fit for human consumption and is lost.
Prevention: develop knowledge and capacity of food
chain operators to apply safe food handling practices.

9. Causes and Prevention of food losses and waste
Lack of processing facilities causes
high food losses in developing
countries.
Prevention: improve investment climate for agro-industry
develop contract farming linkages between processors and
farmer

10. Causes and Prevention of food losses and waste
- Large quantities on display and a wide range in
industrialized countries.
- Inadequate market systems in developing countries.
Prevention: Marketing cooperatives and improved
market facilities.

11. Causes and Prevention of food losses and waste
Small and medium scale food industry
in developing countries has no access
to good quality packaging materials
and technology
Prevention:
- Pre-packing and contract
packing
- Use of reconditioned 2nd hand
packaging machinery

12. Causes and Prevention of food losses and waste
In industrialized countries food gets lost when production
exceeds demand.
Prevention: Communication and cooperation between
farmers.

13. Causes and Prevention of food losses and waste
High ‘appearance quality standards’ from supermarkets for
fresh products lead to food waste.
Prevention: - Consumer surveys by supermarkets.
- Sales closer to consumers.

14. Causes and Prevention of food losses and waste
Abundance and
consumer attitudes lead
to high food waste in
industrialized countries.
Prevention:
Public awareness
Restore value of food

15. Save Food
-AFood systems perspective, with a Supply chain
approach
- It requires
- to assess causes and their specific impacts in a specific
situation
-to assess all costs and consequences of changes
-Viable business case for change
- This has to be done with all concerned stakeholders
-Partnerships

16. Global Initiative on Food Losses and
Waste Reduction – SAVE FOOD
PARTNERSHIPS
Interpack/ Messe Düsseldorf
Consortium of companies and institutions
in the food packaging industry
FAO / Save Food welcomes partners
to join the initiative
www.save-food.org
www.fao.org/save-food

17. Internal Collaboration and Partnerships
INTERESTED PARTNERS/ PARTIES
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
World Food Programme (WFP)
African Development Bank (AfDB)
African Postharvest Losses Information System - APHLIS (Natural Resources Institute,
EU Joint Research Centre)
Donor countries – Germany, Switzerland, Norway
International Trade Centre (ITC)
AndinaPack – South America
BBC World Service
Wageningen University & Research Centre (WUR)
European Packaging Summit (World Trade Group)
Sustainable Packaging Coalition (GreenBlue)
World Water Forum / World Water Week (SIWI)
Global FoodBanking Network

18. Thank you