24 October 2014: The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP) launched a digital platform to tackle food loss during a side event to the 41st session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS), which took place in Rome, Italy, on 13 October 2014. The platform allows stakeholders to share best practices and access resources on food loss reduction and post-harvest management.

Approximately 30% of global food production is either wasted or lost, according to the UN, which is equivalent to the amount needed to feed 2 billion people.

The ‘Global Community of Practice (CoP) on Food Loss Reduction’ aims to serve as a reference point in information-sharing among the public and private sectors and civil society, and to enable stakeholders to access social networks, online libraries and databases and online training on post-harvest management. The site also will host moderated discussion fora. The first forum focuses on ‘Losses occurring along maize supply chains: levels, causes and solutions.’

Global efforts to reduce food loss must be holistic, IFAD Vice-President Michel Mordasini stressed. He highlighted the importance of ensuring that technical solutions are accessible and affordable to farming communities, noting smallholder farmers are the most vulnerable.

“When food is saved, the resources used to produce it are saved. Reducing waste and losses by not creating these in the first place should be a priority for all,” said Maria Helena Semedo, FAO Deputy Director General for Natural Resources.

The platform is part of an ongoing FAO, IFAD and WFO project, ‘Mainstreaming Food Loss Reduction for Smallholders in Food Deficit Areas.’ [UN Press Release] [FAO Press Release] [IISD RS Coverage of CFS 41]