In a meeting at FAO Headquarters, 13 agencies consisting of UN and international partner organizations agreed on a way forward to reduce food losses and waste.

It is estimated that nearly one billion people are chronically hungry and as many as two billion are malnourished. At the same time, as much as one third of global food production is thought to be lost or wasted before it can be consumed.

UN agencies are uniquely placed to both highlight and address these issues. Together they have a local presence throughout the world. They have expertise in food and nutrition needs and requirements, rural and urban development, labour standards, food and agricultural systems, environmental sustainability, regional and international trade and cooperation, to name a few.

To build on these advantages, learn from each other and avoid duplication, the 13 organizations have agreed on the creation of a network of UN agencies and international organizations working on food loss and waste reduction, in support of the UN Secretary-General’s vision articulated in the ‘Zero Loss or Waste of Food’ element of the Zero Hunger Challenge. The organizations stated that they commit to work together to support the cause of food loss reduction, and encourage other UN agencies, governments, the private sector and civil society organizations to join this effort.

Participating agencies: The African Development Bank (ADB), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the International Trade Centre (ITC), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), The World Food Programme (WFP), the UN Standing Committee on Nutrition (UNSCN), the World Bank, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and private sector partner in the SAVE FOOD initiative, Messe Düsseldorf GmbH.

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