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Worldwide Effort to Tackle Food Waste
NGOs and governments have joined forces to launch a major global initiative targeting food waste reduction throughout supply chains. This unprecedented collaboration aims to address the alarming statistic that one-third of all food produced worldwide is lost or wasted annually, contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.
The Scale of the Problem
According to UN Environment Programme data, global food waste amounts to 931 million tonnes yearly - about 121kg per person. This waste occurs at multiple stages: 61% from households, 26% from food service, and 13% from retail. When food decomposes in landfills, it generates methane, a greenhouse gas 80 times more potent than CO₂ in the short term.
New Initiatives for 2025
The Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) has launched its Food & Nutrition Challenge 2025, funding innovative projects that address multiple aspects of food waste. This $2 million program focuses on:
- Strengthening nutrient cycles between rural and urban systems
- Advancing agroecological practices to preserve soils
- Expanding sustainable cold-chain services
- Preventing wastage of edible food
- Developing transparent GHG accounting systems
Meanwhile, WRAP's Food Waste Action Week (March 17-23, 2025) will promote buying loose fruits and vegetables. Research shows this simple change could save 60,000 tonnes of food waste annually if applied to just apples, bananas and potatoes.
Global Impact and Partnerships
Over 200 organizations across 50+ countries have already pledged support, including major retailers like Tesco, Lidl, and Ocado. The initiatives align with UN Sustainable Development Goal 12.3, which aims to halve per capita food waste by 2030. Successful projects will be showcased at COP30 in Brazil.
"These collaborations represent a crucial step in addressing both climate change and food insecurity," said a CCAC spokesperson. "Reducing food waste is a rare solution that benefits the environment while improving food access for vulnerable communities."
