China has unveiled an ambitious action plan to reduce food loss and waste by the end of 2027, aiming to establish sustainable practices and contribute to global efforts against food wastage.
The plan, jointly released by the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council, focuses on improving systems and standards surrounding food loss and waste. Key targets include lowering the loss rates of grain and food during production, storage, transportation, and processing to below international averages.
By 2027, China aims to significantly decrease per capita food waste in the catering industry, government canteens, school cafeterias, and enterprise dining halls. The plan emphasizes enhancing national awareness about saving food, implementing anti-waste actions, and strengthening the collection of statistics on food loss and waste.
This initiative aligns with the United Nations’ goal of halving global food waste by 2030. According to the United Nations Environment Programme’s Food Waste Index Report 2024, the world wasted 1.05 billion tonnes of food in 2022, representing 19% of food available to consumers. Additionally, the Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that an extra 13% of food is lost in the supply chain from post-harvest stages up to retail.
China’s action plan is a significant step towards global sustainability efforts, highlighting the country’s commitment to combating food waste and promoting responsible consumption.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
