The food loss reduction advantage: building sustainable food systems
Around one third of the food globally produced is estimated to be lost or wasted along the supply chain. These losses affect disproportionally developing countries, which have the highest numbers of hungry and malnourished people. Addressing these food losses is key to developing a sustainable and environmentally neutral food system, ensuring that everyone is adequately fed while the environment is protected. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognized the importance of this issue, and called for food loss to be halved by 2030 through the SDG Target 12.3. Through its programme of loans and grants, IFAD has been working with governments and the private sector to reduce food losses experienced by smallholder farmers in developing countries. These interventions have brought benefits in terms of increased food security, improved nutrition, better food safety and income opportunities to farming households, while contributing to the global advancement towards the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
