Avoiding food loss and waste: Workshop in Sub-Saharan Africa

Although the occurrence of food loss and waste (FLW) is a global problem, strategies and measures for their reduction in practice must be adapted to the respective regional and local context and circumstances. As a first step, the Thünen Institute together with the New Zealand Green House Gas Research Centre, the UN Sustainable Development Solution Network and the University of Nairobi organized a workshop on “Food Loss and Waste Prevention in Sub-Saharan Africa”. With 35 participants this workshop was held on the Campus of the University of Nairobi on April 17-18 2024.

On this workshop it became clear that FLW as a complex problem requiring coordinated and collaborative efforts from all stakeholders to address the existing data gaps. Reduction of FLW enhances food availability, nutrition security and decreases hunger. Current estimates indicate high losses and waste within the fruits and vegetable food groups. However, the data gaps make it difficult to develop interventions for reducing food losses and waste. Additionally, other challenges within Sub-Saharan countries include the lack of cold chains, inadequate financial resources, weak links between stakeholders including government ministries.

Our joint workshop is one of the platforms where experts can identify areas of concern where immediate action is needed. In the workshop’s sessions the call to action covers the following items:

• Measuring and tracking of FLW at all stages of the food supply chain
• Need to implement the existing policies
• Commitments to report FLW by all actors in the food chain
• Awareness and education of population
• Innovation and initiatives informed by the socio-cultural contexts
• Financing skills development and capacity building

In a next step, the results of this workshop will be published on the MACS G20 website of the Thünen Institute. They will also be incorporated into the preparations for next year's workshop on LMV in South Africa.