Food loss and waste reduction, measurement and policies
The Technical Platform on the Measurement and Reduction of Food Loss and Waste (TPFLW) seeks to strengthen collective efforts to prevent and reduce food loss and waste across the globe. Launched in December 2015, by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the TPFLW was established following the G20 Ministries of Agriculture recommendation to focus on the measurement and reduction of Food Loss and Waste (FLW).
The Platform contributes to the Food is Never Waste Coalition, a UN Food Systems Summit Coalition co-led by FAO and UNEP to take forward the Agenda 2030 and accelerate action towards SDG target 12.3, to halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains by 2030.
Highlights
news
Ten years of collective action: scaling up the global fight against food loss and waste
Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the TPFLW.
Awareness raising
International Day of Zero Waste
This year’s International Day of Zero Waste focuses on food – what we eat, what we waste, and how we can move towards a more circular future. Find out more!
EVENT
Food safety lens gains attention in FAO webinar on food loss and waste
The webinar mapped existing initiatives and identified opportunities where food safety perspectives could further strengthen ongoing FLW efforts.
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publication
TPFLW included in FAO Highlights of Science and Innovation
Discover how the TPFLW serves Member Countries by reinforcing FAO's capacities.
Tools and apps
FAO Food Loss and Waste Database
Access the largest live database on food loss and food waste, with nearly 40,000 data points.
User guide
Knowledge sharing
Check the latest TPFLW newsletter
Stay up to date with all the latest news on food loss and waste and join our Community of Practice!
FAO stories
The losses along the way
Why we need to think about transportation systems to reduce food loss.
Pinpointing and tackling food loss hotspots in MSMEs enterprises
Leading the way to curbing food loss in Thailand.
Latest Publications
Pilot exercise to compile Sustainable Development Goal Subindicator 12.3.1.a
2026
This technical report is the result of joint efforts by FAO and the National Institute of Statistics and Geography of Mexico (INEGI) to conduct a desk study to compile the SDG 12.3.1.a Food Loss Index in Mexico.
Highlights of science and innovation in FAO’s work
2026
The Highlights of science and innovation in FAO’s Work report was developed to illustrate the breadth and depth of science and innovation in FAO’s efforts. The FAO Science and Innovation Strategy is a key tool to support the implementation of the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31.
A guide to the application of a multidimensional solutions approach to food loss and waste reduction in aquatic value chains
2025
This guide describes a multidimensional approach that has been used to address food loss and waste (FLW) in fishery and aquaculture value chains. It is an evolving approach, but early indications are that it warrants wider dissemination, discussion and application.
FLW on social media
Useful links
See also
- The Food Loss and Waste Database
- SDG target 12.3
- FAO’s reducing food loss and waste programme - BN 4
Related websites
Contacts