23 May 2014: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) have released a tool, titled ‘Think.Eat.Save Guidance Version 1.0.’ The tool is part of the SAVE FOOD Initiative and the FAO-UNEP Sustainable Food Systems Programme. The tool provides guidance on mapping and measuring food waste and on developing national and regional policy measures, including legislation and motivational strategies.

“Food waste carries direct economic and environmental costs and depletes the natural resource base that underpins food production,” said UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner. “Coordination of strategies to reduce food waste can make a real difference,” in a world facing high and volatile food prices, urbanization and climate change, said Helena Semedo, FAO. Semedo emphasized the role of partnerships in fighting food loss and waste and eradicating hunger. The tool aims to contribute to efforts to reduce food loss and waste as well as to contribute to broader aims, such as UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Zero Hunger Challenge.

The tool presents guidance to governments, local authorities, businesses and others on designing effective food waste prevention programmes. The tool also includes specific modules on household and supply chain food waste prevention.

According to UNEP, the document is titled ‘Version 1.0′ to take into account plans to revise the document as more countries begin to address this issue. UNEP is recruiting pilot countries and cities to test the document and is offering technical and strategic support to assist them in the pilot testing phase. [UNEP Press Release] [Think.Eat.Save Campaign Website] [Publication: Think.Eat.Save Version 1.0, Guidance Document]