International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste

Earlier this week (September 29, 2020) the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the United Nations Environmental Programme, and their partners recognized the first International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste. In the linked article below food loss and waste issues, facts, solutions, and more are shared. We encourage you to read the linked release and utilize the discussion points below to guide your conversations around the globe.

Food Loss and Waste Must Be Reduced

Discussion Points

• Explain the difference between food loss and food waste. How does food loss and food waste look similar or different around the world?
• What surprised you the most from the article and why?
• Some solutions to reduce food loss and waste were shared in the article. Of these solutions which do you believe could have the greatest impact on reducing food loss and waste? Justify your reasoning.
• What can you do, where you are at today, to reduce food loss and waste?

The Challenge of Food Loss and Waste

A major challenge that faces us when trying to feed a growing world nutritiously is food loss and waste. Linked below is a web page that shares the story and impact of food loss and waste through text, videos, a podcast, charts, and interactive illustrations. We encourage you to scroll down through the page to learn about the differences between food loss and waste, how and where it happens, it's impact financially and environmentally, and much more. Discussion points are provided below to spark conversations with others around the globe!

Food Loss and Waste is a Global Issue

Discussion Points

• Explain the difference between food loss and waste.
• Explain the different ways food loss and waste occurs throughout our food system.
• Of the different places that food loss and/or waste occurs along our food system which area do you feel has the greatest potential for improvement/cutting food waste and/or loss? How would you recommend this change takes place?
• What was the most surprising or valuable piece of information, chart, illustration, etc. from this website and why was it surprising or valuable to you?
• What can you do personally to decrease food loss and/or waste?