Report on Food Loss and Waste for the International Day of Awareness 2025

Introduction

In observance of the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (IDAFLW) on September 29, this report outlines the critical priority of addressing food loss and waste (FLW) for the transformation of agrifood systems. Reducing FLW is integral to achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region. This initiative aligns with the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) 80th-anniversary theme, “365 Days of Action.”

Global and Regional Scale of Food Loss and Waste

Global Statistics

The global scale of FLW presents a significant challenge to sustainable development. Key data indicates:

• Approximately 13 percent of the world’s food (1.25 billion tonnes) is lost between harvest and retail.
• An additional 19 percent (1.05 billion tonnes) is wasted at the consumption stage.
• Households are responsible for nearly 60 percent of total global food waste.

NENA Regional Context

The NENA region faces intensified challenges due to regional vulnerabilities. Specific data for the region includes:

• An estimated 15 percent of food is lost between post-harvest and retail stages.
• Up to 32 percent of FLW occurs at the consumer level.
• In high-income Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, annual household food waste ranges from 75 to 163 kilograms per capita.
• Over 30 percent of perishable commodities, such as fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, and fish, are wasted annually.

Impact and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Contribution to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger)

FLW directly undermines progress towards SDG 2. In 2023, 2.33 billion people experienced food insecurity, with one in eleven facing hunger. Reducing food loss and waste is a direct strategy to enhance food security and ensure that more food reaches those in need, thereby contributing to the goal of Zero Hunger.

Centrality to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production)

Addressing FLW is the core objective of SDG Target 12.3, which calls for halving per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reducing food losses along production and supply chains by 2030. Furthermore, valorizing food processing by-products supports the transition to circular economy models, a key principle of SDG 12.

Implications for Environmental SDGs (SDG 6, 13, 15)

The environmental impact of FLW is substantial and directly affects several SDGs:

• Climate Action (SDG 13): FLW is responsible for 8–10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating climate change.
• Clean Water (SDG 6) and Life on Land (SDG 15): The production of food that is ultimately lost or wasted represents a significant depletion of scarce natural resources, including land, water, and energy. Reducing FLW is a cost-effective strategy for conserving these vital resources.

A Call for Multi-Stakeholder Action and the Path Forward

The Imperative for Collaborative Action (SDG 17)

Addressing the multifaceted challenge of FLW requires coordinated, multi-stakeholder action, reflecting the principles of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). No single actor can solve this issue alone. Effective solutions depend on collaboration among key stakeholders, including:

• Governments
• The private sector
• Civil society
• Consumers
• Researchers and academia

FAO-RNE Regional Workshop Objectives for IDAFLW 2025

In observance of IDAFLW 2025, the FAO Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa (FAO-RNE) is organizing a regional awareness-raising workshop. The primary objective of this event is:

1. To highlight the importance of addressing FLW as a critical component of agrifood systems transformation in the NENA region, thereby accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • The article directly connects food loss and waste (FLW) to food security, stating that “2.33 billion people who experienced food insecurity in 2023, including one in eleven people facing hunger.” It presents reducing FLW as a strategy to “enhance food security” and “ensure that more food reaches those in need.”
2. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • This is the central theme of the article. It focuses on the global challenge of FLW, providing statistics like “13 percent of food… is lost between harvest and retail” and “19 percent… is wasted at the consumption stage.” The entire initiative described, the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (IDAFLW), is aimed at promoting more sustainable patterns of consumption and production.
3. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The article establishes a clear link between FLW and climate change, noting that FLW “contributes to 8–10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating climate change.” It also highlights that reducing FLW is an effective strategy for “reducing methane emissions.”
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The article repeatedly emphasizes the need for collaboration. It states that “no single actor can address FLW alone” and calls for “Coordinated, multi-stakeholder action… engaging governments, civil society, the private sector, consumers, researchers, and academia.” This highlights the importance of partnerships to achieve the goal of reducing FLW.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.
   • The article supports this target by framing the reduction of FLW as a direct method to improve food availability for the “2.33 billion people who experienced food insecurity.”
2. Target 12.3: By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses.
   • This target is explicitly addressed. The article quantifies the problem with figures like “13 percent of food… is lost” and “19 percent… is wasted,” which are the exact issues Target 12.3 aims to resolve. The entire purpose of the IDAFLW is to intensify efforts to reduce FLW.
3. Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.
   • The article implies this target by presenting FLW reduction as a “cost-effective and impactful” strategy for “reducing methane emissions” and mitigating the “8–10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions” caused by FLW. This suggests that addressing FLW should be part of climate action strategies.
4. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
   • The article’s call for “coordinated, multi-stakeholder action” and its mention of the FAO convening “a diverse group of stakeholders” directly reflect the principle of this target, which focuses on building partnerships to achieve sustainable development.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicators for Target 12.3:
   • Food Loss Percentage: The article states, “Globally, approximately 13 percent of food… is lost between harvest and retail.” In the NENA region, it is an “estimated 15 percent.” This metric directly corresponds to the Food Loss Index (Indicator 12.3.1.a).
   • Food Waste Percentage/Volume: The article mentions that “19 percent [of food] is wasted at the consumption stage” globally. It also provides per capita data for the NENA region, where “household food waste can reach 75 to 163 kilograms per capita annually.” These figures align with the Food Waste Index (Indicator 12.3.1.b).
2. Indicators for Target 2.1:
   • Prevalence of Food Insecurity: The statistic that “2.33 billion people who experienced food insecurity in 2023” is a direct measure related to Indicator 2.1.2 (Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population).
   • Prevalence of Hunger: The mention of “one in eleven people facing hunger” relates to Indicator 2.1.1 (Prevalence of undernourishment).
3. Indicator for Target 13.2:
   • Greenhouse Gas Emissions from FLW: The statement that “FLW contributes to 8–10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions” serves as an implied indicator. Progress could be measured by tracking the reduction of this percentage as FLW is reduced, contributing to the overall goal of Indicator 13.2.2 (Total greenhouse gas emissions per year).
4. Indicator for Target 17.17:
   • Formation of Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships: While not a quantitative metric, the article’s description of the FAO-RNE convening “a diverse group of stakeholders” and the call for engaging “governments, civil society, the private sector, consumers, researchers, and academia” imply the formation and operation of partnerships, which is a qualitative indicator of progress towards this target.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: fao.org