Food loss and waste reduction is considered important for improving food security and nutrition, promoting environmental sustainability and lowering production costs. However, it is not a given that reducing food loss and waste in any part of the world or point in the food supply chain will be equally effective in achieving these objectives, or be effective at all. Public strategies to reduce food loss and waste must be carefully designed in order to effectively meet food security and environmental sustainability objectives. Reducing food loss and waste can improve food security and nutrition, lower greenhouse gas emissions and reduce pressures on natural resources such as land and water – but the effectiveness depends on where and how it is done. Different countries will have different priorities to guide their strategies. Focusing on initiatives that are well targeted to the objective pursued will be the key to successfully move forward on food loss and waste.