International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste: Thoughts from two African Food Fellowship Fellows
International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (#IDAFLW) underscores the global challenge of ensuring food security and sustainable food systems. This year's theme, “Reducing food loss and waste: ?Taking Action to Transform Food Systems”, calls for us to prioritise actions to reduce food loss and waste towards restoring and building back better and resilient-ready, food systems.
At Wasafiri we are delighted to work with passionate food systems leaders who through the African Food Fellowship , are actioning food systems actions in their daily work that systemically looks to tackle food loss and waste, among other complex issues within the food system in Africa.
The economic imperative of addressing food loss and waste
Mutuma Muriuki, an Agri-finance Fellow whose work focuses on sustainable agriculture, sheds light on the economic dimension of the food loss and waste challenge.
It goes beyond waste reduction; it's about maximising resource utilisation and enhancing economic efficacy. Through the reduction of food loss and waste, substantial financial savings can be achieved, resources can be conserved, and avenues for economic expansion and employment generation can be opened across the entire food supply chain, catalysing a sustainable and thriving ecosystem.
In his work Mutuma has spearheaded innovative initiatives that have reduced waste and brought positive changes to his community. In using organic waste to produce biochar, a raw material for making biofertilizer, he not only reduces food waste but also benefits local Kenyan farmers. For example, he mentions a specific case where his project helped an avocado farmer in Meru, reclaim an unproductive section of her farm. He also tells us of Oscar Ominde, the founder of SOFDI, who collaborated with chicken farmers in Kakamega to establish delocalised black soldier fly larvae production units. These units enable farmers to manage food waste effectively while producing high-protein chicken feed from the larvae. What's more, the frass produced in this process is packaged as organic fertilizer for vegetable farmers in the region, creating a circular and sustainable system.
Consumer behaviour: A catalyst for change
The role of consumers in the fight against food loss and waste cannot be overstated. Consumers form the majority of stakeholders in the food supply chain, and their behaviour has a direct impact on the scale of food loss and waste. Responsible shopping habits, as advocated by Muriuki, can significantly reduce food waste. "Planning meals, buying in bulk less frequently, and embracing 'ugly' or imperfect produce, are some of the practical steps that consumers can take to contribute to this effort" he says.
Winnie Yegon, Horticulture Fellow and food loss and waste management expert at FAO, is an ardent advocate for the cause. Her work involves extensive research on food waste and loss and highlighting gaps and opportunities that inform top-level decision making.
She says the evidence on consumer behaviour is starkly illuminated in the UNEP food waste index report, revealing that a substantial 17% of global food production is squandered. This wastage is distributed across various stages, with 11% within households, 5% in food service establishments, and 2% percent in retail settings. These figures underscore the pivotal role of households in both contributing to and mitigating food waste. She advocates for actively promote messaging that empowers individuals to make informed decisions, and in that way consumers become powerful agents of change in the battle against food waste.
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Winnie Yegon at the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi
Still, incentives can be a powerful tool to encourage more responsible consumption habits, adds Mutume. Reward programs for consumers who engage in sustainable practices, such as recycling organic waste, which can earn them points redeemable with private waste collectors could reduce food waste but also encourages responsible waste management practices.
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Contributions of businesses and industries
Businesses and industries play a pivotal role in the fight against food loss and waste throughout the supply chain. They have the capacity to implement strategies that can significantly reduce waste and optimise resource utilisation. According to Muriuki, some of the key strategies that can be adopted include:
To this Winnie adds that the private sector, with its capacity to develop sustainable solutions, stands as a pivotal player in this arena, not only fostering job creation, particularly for our youth, but also identifying commercialisation and investment prospects.
By actively engaging the financial sector to support innovative approaches to tackle food loss and waste, the private sector can amplify the impact of these solutions. We can mitigate food waste by integrating redistribution and waste management into their core operations, thus promoting sustainability on multiple fronts.
Policies and initiatives
Both Fellows agree that effective policies and initiatives, spearheaded by governments and international organisations, are vital in addressing food loss and waste at a larger scale. Key strategies include incentivising sustainable agricultural practices, investing in storage and transportation infrastructure, implementing clear regulations and food labelling standards, supporting food recovery programs, and promoting research into preservation methods. Additionally, harnessing technology such as data analytics, IoT sensors, blockchain, mobile apps, and AI predictive analytics can significantly enhance supply chain efficiency and reduce waste.
The ultimate goal: Zero food loss and waste for food and nutrition security
Winnie believes that addressing the challenges of food loss and waste may seem straightforward, given the evident potential for improvement. However, it is essential to recognise that food loss and waste are intricate issues embedded within a #complex food system. To truly make headway, she adds, we must delve into understanding the underlying causal factors, the intricate interdependencies, and the interconnectedness of actors within the supply chain that contribute to these problems.
What we perceive as the visible signs of food loss and waste, are symptoms of a food system operating sub-optimally. The root causes of these symptoms are multifaceted, encompassing elements like price fluctuations, inadequate storage facilities, limited skills and infrastructure for agro-processing, and even influences originating from the market's end of the supply chain. As we develop interventions to combat food loss and waste, it's imperative that we consider all these dynamic factors.
The ultimate goal, as both Mutuma and Winnie agree, is to achieve zero food loss and waste for food and nutrition security. Only through forging the right partnerships, establishing meaningful linkages, and fostering collaborative actions can we hope to create a more efficient and sustainable food system that minimises waste and maximises food availability for all.
Mutuma and Winnie are Fellows of the African Food Fellowship, who are building a radical movement of leaders working to transform food systems in Africa. They provide world class training, platforms, and networks to spark collaborative action for healthy, inclusive, and sustainable food systems.
The Fellowship is supported by Wageningen University & Research , Wasafiri Consulting, and IKEA Foundation.