China is taking a significant step towards sustainability by announcing a comprehensive action plan aimed at reducing food loss and waste by the end of 2027. This initiative, jointly released by the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council, seeks to establish a robust long-term mechanism to tackle food waste across the nation.
The new plan focuses on improving the systems and standards surrounding food production, storage, transportation, and processing. By targeting loss rates of grain and other food products below the average international levels, China aims to set a benchmark in food security and sustainability.
One of the key goals is to significantly decrease per capita food waste in various sectors, including the catering industry, government canteens, school canteens, and enterprise canteens. The plan outlines several critical tasks, such as enhancing national awareness about the importance of saving food, implementing anti-waste measures in the food service sector, and strengthening the collection of food loss and waste statistics.
This ambitious effort aligns with the United Nations' goal of halving global food waste by 2030. According to the United Nations Environment Programme Food Waste Index Report 2024, the world wasted 1.05 billion tonnes of food in 2022, accounting for 19 percent of food available to consumers. Additionally, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimates that an extra 13 percent of food is lost in the supply chain from post-harvest stages up to the retail point.
China’s proactive approach not only contributes significantly to global sustainability goals but also sets a positive example for other nations striving to reduce food waste and enhance food security.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
