AGRA Highlights Critical Need to Address Food Waste Amid Rising Global Hunger

AGRA, an organization committed to sustainably improving Africa’s food systems, is drawing attention to the alarming statistics surrounding global food waste and the resulting environmental impacts.

According to a post by @AGRA_Africa, a staggering one-third of all food produced globally is lost or wasted every year. This monumental waste isn’t just a tragedy in the face of global hunger—with 735 million people going hungry every day—it’s also a major contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The waste drives between 8-10% of annual GHG emissions, making the situation all the more pressing.

As global efforts to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels become increasingly precarious, AGRA underscores the immense mitigation potential of solutions that tackle food waste. Addressing this challenge isn’t just about reducing emissions; it’s also a crucial step toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations. With only seven years left to meet these ambitious targets, the urgency to act decisively is paramount.

AGRA’s message, echoed by the hashtag #WasteLessFeedMore, is clear: every bite of food saved from waste is a step towards both feeding the world’s hungry and ensuring a more sustainable and resilient global food system.

To provide a deeper understanding and spread awareness of this issue, AGRA has provided a link to a report titled “Critical Transitions 6: Reducing Food Loss and Waste” on the Food and Land Use Coalition website.

The post also coincides with the Food Loss and Waste Day, emphasizing the importance of global efforts to address this issue, as signified by the hashtags #FLWDay and #IDAFLW.

As AGRA continues to champion for sustainable food systems in Africa, its call to action on global food waste is a stark reminder of the interconnected challenges faced by the world and the need for immediate, concerted action.