At the World Economic Forum in Davos, a coalition of 30 leaders -Champions 12.3 -launched a new effort to reduce food loss and waste globally.
The leadership group aims to accelerate progress toward meeting Target 12.3 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which seeks to halve per capita food waste and reduce food losses by 2030.
Reducing food loss and waste can be highly beneficial: it can save money for farmers, companies and households; wasting less can feed more people; and reductions can alleviate pressure on climate, water and land resources.
The Champions include CEOs of major companies, government ministers, and executives of research and intergovernmental institutions, foundations, farmer organizations, and civil society groups.
These leaders will work to create political, business and social momentum to reduce food loss and waste around the world.
Inspired by the “No More Food to Waste” conference in The Hague in June of 2015, the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands formally called for the coalition’s formation in September 2015, and is providing secretariat support for Champions 12.3, along with World Resources Institute.
According to Vice-Minister for Agriculture in the Netherlands, Hans Hoogeveen, worldwide food loss impedes food security and fuels climate change.
"Food that is ultimately lost or wasted consumes about a quarter of all water used by agriculture, requires cropland area the size of China, and is responsible for an estimated 8 percent of global greenhouse gas emission," Mr Hoogeveen said.
"Through their leadership the Champions 12.3 will be able to connect these challenges, by forming smart alliances, bringing together leaders from private sector, local communities, farmers, science and government."