New coalition seeks to mobilise action to reduce food loss and waste

A new coalition – Champions 12.3 – has launched a new effort to inspire ambition and mobilise action to reduce food loss and waste globally.

This leadership group aims to accelerate progress toward meeting Target 12.3 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which seeks to halve per capita food waste and reduce food losses by 2030.

Globally, a third of all food is lost or wasted between the farm and the fork. Reducing food loss and waste can be a triple win: It can save money for farmers, companies, and households; wasting less can feed more people; and reductions can alleviate pressure on climate, water, and land resources.

The Champions include CEOs of major companies, government ministers, and executives of research and intergovernmental institutions, foundations, farmer organizations, and civil society groups. These leaders will work to create political, business and social momentum to reduce food loss and waste around the world.

“Bold action is what matters”

Food loss and waste has significant economic, social, and environmental consequences. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), food loss and waste amounts to $940 billion in global annual economic losses. It contributes to hunger. Also, lost and wasted food consumes about one quarter of all water used by agriculture, requires cropland area the size of China, and generates about 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Commenting on Champions 12.3, coalition member Paul Bulcke, CEO of Nestlé, said, “We are proud to be part of Champions 12.3. I am convinced that by working together, we can develop effective solutions to reduce food loss and waste, to help the world meet Target 12.3.

“Bold action is what matters, and we are already committed to sending zero waste for disposalfrom all our sites by 2020. Such actions benefit society by supporting rural development, water conservation and food security, and help us ensure that our sourcing is more sustainable.”