Strengthening climate resilience, adaptation and mitigation through food loss and waste reduction

Dubai (United Arab Emirates), Hybrid Event, 03/12/2023

BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE

Significant levels of food loss and waste (FLW) occur in the food supply chain from production to consumption. Globally, up to 13.2 percent of food produced for human consumption is lost from the post-harvest stage up to but excluding the retail stage, while 17 percent is wasted at the retail and consumer stages. FLW contribute to many of the multiple interrelated crises facing the world today - climate change, biodiversity loss, environmental pollution, high energy prices and the urgent burden of food insecurity and malnutrition, with up to 735 million people suffering from hunger and almost 3.1 billion not being able to afford a healthy diet. Regarding climate change, FLW are responsible for 8 to 10 percent of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, while contributing to many factors that drive climate change, such as degradation of natural ecosystems, biodiversity loss and unsustainable use of natural resources. On the other hand, climate change can be a significant causative factor of FLW, for example by increasing the incidence of post-harvest pests, while FLW reduction and related value addition activities provide avenues for building resilience and adapting to climate change.

OBJECTIVES

The side-event will discuss how FLW reduction can contribute to GHG emissions reduction and scaled-up climate adaptation efforts, the priority interventions by different stakeholders, and concrete recommendations to achieve FLW reduction and climate benefits within a sustainable agrifood systems context.

FORMAT

The event will be a hybrid event, with a physical aspect hosted at the COP venue (see below) and virtual participation. Physically present participants will be able to ask any burning questions after the panel discussions. The event will be livestreamed on YouTube channels (HERE).

DATE AND TIME

The event will take place on Sunday, 3^rd December 2023 from 18:30 to 19:30 local time (GMT + 4).

DRAFT AGENDA

18:30 | Welcome remarks by the Moderator, Dr. Divine Njie, Deputy Director, Food Systems and Food Safety, FAO
18:35 | Keynote remarks by Dr Máximo Torero Cullen, Chief Economist, FAO
18:45 | Panel discussion
Examples of interventions by Member Countries and Development Partners. Panelists include:
H.E. Anxious J. Masuka, Minister of Agriculture, Land, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Zimbabwe (TBC)
Ms Annica Sohlström, Director-General, The Swedish Food Agency
Ms Claire Henly, Senior Advisor, US Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate
Prof. Dr. M. Medrilzam, Director for Environmental Affairs, Ministry of National Development Planning (BAPPENAS), Indonesia (TBC)
Ms Geeta Sethi, Advisor & Global Lead for Food Systems, The World Bank (TBC)
Perspectives from private sector and other agrifood systems actors
19:10 | Questions and comments from the audience
19:30 | Closing of the event

The side-event will take place in the Food and Agriculture Pavilion, which is sponsored by CGIAR, FAO, IFAD and The Rockefeller Foundation.

The Pavilion is located in Thematic Arena 2 in the Blue Zone, adjacent to the Opportunity Pedal.

Please note the Pavilion is not to be confused with the Food Systems Pavilion, the Food4Cliamte Pavilion, or any other Food-themed Pavilions located in the same Thematic Arena.

Webcast