Call for action against food loss in drive for sustainable development
The United Nations’ food agency says around 14% of the food produced globally is lost and is urging action to address the causes of food loss as part of efforts to protect the environment.
In a report Monday, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) stressed the need to reduce food loss as “firmly embedded in the 2030 agenda for sustainable development”.
However, it noted that a combination of causes, including harvesting and handling practices, a lack of infrastructure, agricultural blights and climatic conditions, keep fuelling large food losses around the world.
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FAO said its estimates focus on losses between harvest and markets.
It said Central and Southern Asia have the highest levels of food losses at over 20%, followed by North America and Europe at more than 15%.
Food is also wasted at the retail and consumer levels.