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HIGH LEVELS OF POST-HARVEST LOSSES AND FOOD WASTE IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC POSE A THREAT TO FOOD SECURITY
“Reducing food losses and food waste offers considerable opportunity to strengthen food security and promote economic and social development in the region.”
“If we can help food producers to reduce losses through better harvesting, processing, storage, transport and marketing methods, and combine this with profound and lasting changes in the way people consume food, then we can have a healthier and hunger-free world.”
Hiroyuki KonumaAssistant Director-General and FAO Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific
Graziano da SilvaFAO Director-General
For further information, please contact:
Hiroyuki KonumaAssistant Director-General and Regional RepresentativeFood and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsRegional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Email: [email protected]
We invite you to join the Save Food Asia-Pacific Campaign to promote practical actions to
REDUCE FOOD LOSSES AND FOOD WASTE
The Save Food Asia-Pacific Campaign, led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, seeks to raise awareness about the high levels of food losses and food waste in Asia and the Pacific region and to promote sustainable food consumption.
FOOD IS LIFESAVE FOOD
What are post-harvest losses?
What is food waste?
How does food waste differ from food loss?
How much food is wasted in countries of Asia and the Pacific region?
What factors contribute to post-harvest losses in Asia and the Pacific Region?
How do post-harvest losses threaten food security and nutrition?
Post-harvest losses refer to the decrease in the amount of food available for people as food moves from the farmer to the market.
Post-harvest losses result from defects such as poor shape or bruising, or losses in weight from either water loss or bulk loss due to spillage or spoilage of the food from pests, diseases or rots.
A lack of production planning
Pests and diseases
Poor and inadequate infrastructure
Lack of cool and dry storage facilities
Improper and inadequate use of bulk packaging
Lack of dedicated transport systems for food
Limited knowledge of stakeholders about post-harvest handling and food processing.
Approximately 11 kg of food per person per year is wasted in developing Asian countries (FAO, 2011)
Approximately 80 kg of food per person per year is wasted in developed Asian countries such as China, Japan and Republic of Korea (FAO, 2011).
Food waste refers to food that is perfectly suited for consumption, but is discarded by consumers.
Food waste refers to losses that take place at the consumer and retail levels.
Food waste takes place largely in supermarkets, restaurants and in the home, and is prevalent in the more developed economies of the region.
Food waste is a growing problem in many cities in developing countries of Asia and the Pacific region.
Post-harvest losses reduce food availability.
Post-harvest losses contribute to losses in nutritional value.
Post-harvest losses increase the cost of food for consumers.
Post-harvest losses result in economic losses to stakeholders in food supply chains.
Approximately 42 percent of fruits and vegetables and up to 30 percent of grains produced in Asia and the Pacific region are lost between production and the market.
Post-harvest losses reduce the number of
calories available for consumption in the
region and represent a missed opportunity
to feed the region’s growing population.
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High levels of post-harvest losses in the region are the result of:
FOOD LOSSES AND FOOD WASTE SQUANDER RESOURCES – land, water and energy – AND HAVE NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT
Post-harvest losses account for a majority of the food losses sustained in developing countries across Asia and the Pacific region.
Per capita food losses and waste (kg/year) in different regions
Global Food Losses
350300
60%
250
50%
200
40%
150
30%
100
20%
50
10%
0
0%
Europe
North America & Oceania
Roots & Tubers
Industrialized Asia
Oilseeds & Pulses
Subsahara Africa
Fruits & Vegetables
North Africa, West & Central Asia
Meat
South & South East Asia
Fish & Seafood
Latin America
Dairy Products
Consumer
Consumption
Production to retailing
Distribution
Postharvest
Processing
Agriculture