International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste 2023: Date, History, Facts about Reduce Food Waste

Every year on September 29, the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste is observed. It is a day to urge the public and private sectors to prioritize actions and innovations to reduce global food loss and waste. All of this is oriented toward restoring and rebuilding stronger and more resilient food systems. In a world where hunger has been on the rise since 2014 and tonnes of edible food are lost and/or wasted every day, reducing food losses and waste is of the uttermost importance.

The background of International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste

Food loss has existed since the beginning of time because things like spoilage were difficult to regulate. Now that we have the means to control a significant portion of food deterioration, food loss and waste still occur for a variety of reasons, ranging from negligence to a lack of technical knowledge.

Approximately 14% of global food production is lost between harvest and retail, while an estimated 17% of global food production is squandered, including 11% in households, 5% in the food service industry, and 2% in retail. This amounts to global agricultural losses of approximately 1.2 billion tonnes per year, resulting in annual field losses of more than 350 million dollars. Saving just one-fourth of the food currently lost or wasted in the world could help feed 870 million starving people and combat climate change, as food loss and waste are responsible for approximately 8% of global greenhouse gas (G.H.G.) emissions, leading to ozone layer depletion and causing climate change.

When food is lost or discarded, all resources used to produce it — including water, land, energy, labor, and capital — go to waste. This has a significant negative impact on the sustainability of our food systems. It also has negative effects on food security and food availability and contributes to the rise in food prices. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (F.A.O.) was founded in 1945 with the objective of eradicating world hunger. They have made several strides in this direction, including convening in December 2019 to select September 29 as the date for the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste.

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5 Top Suggestions to Reduce Food Waste

While it may be convenient to purchase in bulk, you should avoid doing so because it leads to food waste.

Food would perish if improperly stored; potatoes, garlic, cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions should never be refrigerated.

Choose the proper method of food preservation to avoid food waste, as there is no universal solution.

Organize your refrigerator using the FIFO (first in, first out) system.

The skin of carrots, apples, mangoes, potatoes and the like should be consumed and not thrown away as they are very nutritious.

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF AWARENESS OF FOOD LOSS AND WASTE DATES

Year	Date	Day
2023	September 29	Friday
2024	September 29	Sunday
2025	September 29	Monday
2026	September 29	Tuesday
2027	September 29	Wednesday