Thumbnail Image

The State of Food and Agriculture 2019

Moving forward on food loss and waste reduction

Copyright licence

Year of publication 2019

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 182

Author FAO

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Book (series)

Category Flagship

ISBN 978-92-5-131789-1

Series title The State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA)

Series number 2019

To cite or share https://doi.org/10.4060/CA6030EN

Synopsis (short abstract) The need to reduce food loss and waste is firmly embedded in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Food loss and waste reduction is considered important for improving food security and nutrition, promoting environmental sustainability and lowering production costs. However, efforts to reduce food loss and waste will only be effective if informed by a solid understanding of the problem. This report provides new estimates of the percentage of the world’s food lost from production up to the retail level. The report also finds a vast diversity in existing estimates of losses, even for the same commodities and for the same stages in the supply chain. Clearly identifying and understanding critical loss points in specific supply chains – where considerable potential exists for reducing food losses – is crucial to deciding on appropriate measures. The report provides some guiding principles for interventions based on the objectives being pursued through food loss and waste reductions, be they in improved economic efficiency, food security and nutrition, or environmental sustainability.

The following complementary information is available:

Last updated 14/08/2025

Cite this content as:

FAO. 2019. The State of Food and Agriculture 2019. Moving forward on food loss and waste reduction. Rome.

https://doi.org/10.4060/CA6030EN

Read on Google Books and buy online

Language English

Also available in:

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.
Show more

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (series)
    Flagship
    The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2022
    Repurposing food and agricultural policies to make healthy diets more affordable
    2022
    Also available in:
    This year’s report should dispel any lingering doubts that the world is moving backwards in its efforts to end hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition in all its forms. We are now only eight years away from 2030, but the distance to reach many of the SDG 2 targets is growing wider each year. There are indeed efforts to make progress towards SDG 2, yet they are proving insufficient in the face of a more challenging and uncertain context. The intensification of the major drivers behind recent food insecurity and malnutrition trends (i.e. conflict, climate extremes and economic shocks) combined with the high cost of nutritious foods and growing inequalities will continue to challenge food security and nutrition. This will be the case until agrifood systems are transformed, become more resilient and are delivering lower cost nutritious foods and affordable healthy diets for all, sustainably and inclusively.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (stand-alone)
    Technical study
    Agricultural Cooperative Development
    A manual for trainers
    1998
    Also available in:
  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (stand-alone)
    Technical book
    The future of food and agriculture - Trends and challenges 2017
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    What will be needed to realize the vision of a world free from hunger and malnutrition? After shedding light on the nature of the challenges that agriculture and food systems are facing now and throughout the 21st century, the study provides insights into what is at stake and what needs to be done. “Business as usual” is not an option. Major transformations in agricultural systems, rural economies, and natural resources management are necessary. The present study was undertaken for the quadrennial review of FAO’s strategic framework and for the preparation of the Organization Medium-Term plan 2018-2021.
Show more