FAO Marked the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste at Expo 2025 Osaka

On 29 September 2025, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) hosted a special event at the United Nations Pavilion of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, to celebrate the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (IDAFLW). 

The initiative highlighted this year’s theme, “Take action”, with a special focus on food loss and waste in Japan, and encouraged around 500 visitors to reflect on their role in reducing food loss and waste for a more food-secure world. 

An interactive experience 

Two sessions took place, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, inside the Immersive Theater of the UN Pavilion. After a short introduction on this year’s theme, visitors have been engaged in workshops to share their thoughts on food loss and waste (FLW). Participants were encouraged to write their “FLW actions” or key takeaways on colorful post-it notes, which were then displayed collectively to create a “table of actions.” This visual testimony demonstrated how small, individual steps can contribute to meaningful global change. 

Why it matters 

Globally, around 13% of food is lost between harvest and retail, while an additional 19% is wasted at the consumer level. In Japan, reducing food loss and waste remains a national priority to strengthen food security, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and support more sustainable patterns of consumption. 

A collective commitment 

Through this initiative, FAO underscored that tackling food loss and waste is a shared responsibility that requires the engagement of everyone. Expo 2025 provided an important opportunity to turn awareness into action and inspire concrete commitments towards SDG 12.3.