Agricultural Breakthrough Technology 3 Factsheet: Reduce Food Loss and Waste

Food loss and waste (FLW): Addressing emissions and food wastage, a global issue with interventions across the entire value chain

If food loss and waste (FLW) were a country, it would be the third largest greenhouse gas (GHG)-emitting nation in the world. Almost a third of the food that is produced never reaches consumers – this is ‘food loss’. ‘Food waste’ occurs at the retail and consumer levels, and alone is responsible for a staggering 6% of total global GHG emissions. Over-purchasing and improper storage and disposal are major sources of food waste in high- and middle-income countries, while low-income states experience significant pre- and post-production losses. FLW also has substantial impacts on resource use, accounting for up to 24% of total water, arable land, and fertiliser consumption. The economic value of FLW worldwide is estimated at between USD one trillion and USD 2.5 trillion.