Towards A Low Carbon Future: Circular Production And Consumption To Reduce Food Loss And Waste

One third of the world’s food production is ultimately lost or wasted, a massive inefficiency in terms of resources, labour and environmental impact. Linear food systems significantly contribute to the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, leading to food insecurity and representing a humanitarian challenge in a hungry world. Around 13% of the food is lost in upstream processes, including crop spoilage, distribution damages, date expiration and other; and 17% is lost at food services and households, mainly because of consumer rejection, poor planning, and oversized portions. A sustainable food system is crucial, as targeted in SDG 12.3, anda transition towards circular production and consumptions patterns is a key element. Enabling circular practices throughout the food production, distribution and consumption value chain represents a tangible and achievable step in the global pursuit of sustainable development, with cross-cutting benefits to many other areas of relevance worldwide. This policy brief aims to call attention to the issue, fostering collaboration and enabling concrete actions among G20 countries to prevent food loss and waste. The food loss and waste drivers include upstream factors (environmental, production practices, infrastructure, market, policy and socio-economic) and downstream factors (consumer behaviour, commercial practices, storage and retail, food services and household practices). To overcome the challenges, recommendations encompass different approaches, including: developing national strategies; investing in data collection and analysis; improving infrastructures, using sustainable packaging; developing economic instruments; empowering local governments; and, maximizing knowledge transfer and awareness. As an outcome, substantial GHG emission reductions could be obtained and be instrumental to prevent and abate methane, a potent short lived climate force.