City and local efforts against food loss and food waste debated at event in Valencia

The City of Valencia hosted productive dialogue on “Urban public policies against food loss and waste” during a conference co-organized by the World Sustainable Urban Food Centre of Valencia (CEMAS) and the European Food and Information Council (EUFIC). 

FAO Brussels Director Raschad Al-Khafaji participated in a panel on the global and European landscape concerning food sustainability, fostering innovative ideas and strategies. Al-Khafaji was joined by Juan Prieto, Deputy Permanent Representative of Spain to FAO, Anne-Laure Gassin Team leader,  Directorate General for Health and Food Safety of the European Commission DG SANTE, and Felicitas Schneider of the Thünen Institute in Germany. 

“Reducing food loss and food waste must be central to the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, sustainable and resilient agrifood systems. A sustainable reduction means that we can potentially also increase the availability and access to food”, said Al-Khafaji during his intervention.

While in Valencia, Al-Khafaji had  fruitful discussions with representatives from the City of Valencia, exploring potential future collaboration, in particular with Valencia becoming the European Green Capital for 2024. 

Additionally, Al-Khafaji visited the GIAHS awarded site of the Horta de Valencia and the rice production system together with Valencia’s Councillor for Agriculture, Carlos Mundina.
Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) are agroecosystems inhabited by communities that live in an intricate relationship with their territory.

The irrigation system adopted in the Horta since the Islamic times provides healthy products through 6000 family agricultural farms, including 10 fisheries, and reflects a culture of adaptation to the climate conditions that could be considered a potential sustainable solution to modern challenges.

The Horta will be among the GIAHS sites showcased at a special event jointly organized by FAO Brussels and co-hosted by the Committee of the Regions on 24 November, in Brussels. You can register for this event here.