To mark the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and
Waste 2025 , the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations (FAO) today highlighted that reducing food loss and waste
generates numerous socioeconomic and environmental benefits and called
for targeted investments across the agrifood value chain.

 "By taking action to prevent and reduce food loss and waste, we can
generate triple wins: improving food security and nutrition, providing
economic benefits for primary producers, businesses, and consumers, and
lowering environmental and climate impacts while protecting biodiversity
and reducing pollution," said QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General, in a
video message at a special event co-organized with the UN Environment
Programme (UNEP) at FAO headquarters in Rome.

Qu noted that to fully realize these benefits, a diverse range of
targeted investments across the value chain is necessary, particularly
in low and middle-income countries, where food insecurity and
malnutrition are most prevalent.

Key investment areas include: i) infrastructure development to minimize
food losses; ii) innovative technologies to track and reduce food loss
and waste; iii) implementation of circular economy approaches that
maximize food utilization; and iv) enhancing the capacity of
stakeholders to reduce food losses and waste and educating consumers to
effectively reduce food waste.

 Currently, an estimated 13.2 percent of food – equivalent to 1.25
billion tonnes – is lost after harvest and before reaching retail.
Additionally, in 2022, over 1 billion tonnes (19 percent) of food was
wasted in households, food services, and retail. While at the same time,
an estimated 8.2 percent of the global population, or about 673 million
people, experienced hunger in 2024, and 2.6 billion could not afford a
healthy diet.

 Innovation and Collaboration In his video-message, the FAO Director-General announced in addition to
last year’s launch of the Food Loss App (FLAPP) the creation of
Optiwaste, a digital application that facilitates the registration and
analysis of food waste in schools, serving as a foundation for improving
the nutritional quality of school meals and reducing food waste.

 Qu also emphasized that addressing food loss and waste is a systemic
challenge that requires collaboration from all sectors.

 "Strong partnerships with the private sector are particularly important
in unlocking the investments and strengthening the capacity needed to
enable the adoption of new technologies and innovations,” he said.

 “Accelerating actions to reduce food loss and waste is now a matter
of urgency, and a priority, to ensure a sustainable foods-secure future
for all.”

The event which marked the 6th International Day of Awareness of Food
Loss and Waste showcased concrete actions and case studies from
Ethiopia, Thailand, Argentina, and the Dominican Republic that aim to
measurably reduce food loss and waste. A panel discussion highlighted
the successes achieved by public and private institutions in effectively
tackling these issues.

Alongside the global event, FAO headquarters is hosting an exhibition
that brings together the Organization’s collective efforts,
spotlighting work on food loss measurement and initiatives aligned with
the Science and Innovation Strategy. The exhibition highlights advanced
tools, comprehensive data, and innovative technologies that enhance the
efficiency and sustainability of agrifood systems, while illustrating
how FAO’s initiatives contribute to climate action and the improvement
of livelihoods worldwide.

Working with new partners

Today, the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR) joins FAO’s Champions
community on the occasion of FAO’s 80th anniversary. To mark this
milestone, they will promote healthy diets, highlight the issue of food
loss and waste, and advance sustainability through the power of sport.