Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
A growing global population with deteriorating natural resources and increased urbanization means more people to feed with less water, farmland and rural labour. Satisfying expected increases in water, energy and food needs means shifting to more sustainable production and consumption approaches.
Today, the world wastes or loses around a third of the food it produces while almost 690 million people go hungry. To feed the world sustainably, producers need to grow more food while reducing negative environmental impacts such as soil, water and nutrient loss, greenhouse gas emissions and degradation of ecosystems. Consumers must be encouraged to shift to nutritious and safe diets with a lower environmental footprint.
FAO is a leading actor in coordinating global initiatives, activities and projects on food losses and waste reduction, partnering with UN agencies, other international organizations, the private sector and civil society.
Indicators
The success of the Sustainable Development Goals rests to a large extent on effective monitoring, review and follow-up processes. SDG indicators are the foundation of this new global framework for mutual accountability. FAO is the ‘custodian’ UN agency for 21 indicators, for SDGs 2, 5, 6, 12, 14 and 15 and a contributing agency for four more.



