A new multi-stakeholder network has vowed to collaborate in the fight against post-harvest food losses and food waste in Thailand, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) announced today.

The formation of Save Food Network Thailand (SFNET) was inspired by the regional Save Food Asia-Pacific Campaign, in which Thailand is among some ten countries across the region participating.  

The problem of food loss and food waste cannot be overstated. Worldwide, 30 percent of foods are lost or wasted every year. In the case of fruits and vegetables, nearly half of those produced are lost or wasted. While there are no exact figures for Thailand, as one of Asia’s biggest producers of food, all stakeholders of SFNET agree food loss and waste are evident in Thailand and solutions are needed.

“Given His Majesty the King’s theory on sufficiency and the Thai people’s full support of those approaches, the formation of this Save Food Network Thailand is very relevant,” said Hiroyuki Konuma, FAO Assistant-Director General and Regional Representative during the opening of the SFNET’s first meeting.

While the membership will continue to expand, its principal members will include representatives from public sector institutes, private sector associations, UN partners, civil society organizations, research and academic institutions, marketing organizations and other relevant organizations associated with the food sector. Other concerned stakeholders may join as associate members.

During its inaugural meeting, participants agreed that more research is needed at national level. Stakeholders vowed to promote harmonized efforts geared toward raising awareness and advocating for knowledge-based economic, social and environmental values and benefits that can be obtained through the reduction of food loss and waste in Thailand.

To that end, SFNET will serve as a common platform for discussion, knowledge-sharing, promotion and implementation of concerted efforts to reduce food loss and waste. Planned activities such as research, seminars, events, etc., include advocacy and awareness-raising, information sharing and organizing joint activities in support of the Save Food Campaign Thailand.