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Food Losses and Waste in Europe and Central Asia

Draft Synthesis Report









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    Reduction of Food Losses and Waste in Europe and Central Asia for Improved Food Security and Agrifood Chain Efficiency 2014
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    This study represents one of a number of UN/FAO-supported research initiatives on the subject of food losses and waste. It builds on the ground breaking research and conclusions of the Global Food Losses Study commissioned in 2011 from the Swedish Institute for Food and Biotechnology, updating its data and consolidating its analysis of the impact of food losses and waste on the Europe and Central Asia region. Drawing on research conducted into food losses and waste in the Europe and Central Asi a region and more broadly, the sections below present the context and importance of addressing the issue of food losses and waste in the region, review the ongoing debate in this relation and current national and multi-national initiatives to reduce losses and waste. Finally the study used recently conducted country studies commissioned by UN/FAO in two middle-income countries (Turkey and Ukraine) and one low-income country (Armenia) to provide an overall assessment of the levels of food loss a nd waste in the Europe and Central Asia region, as well as to analyse critical loss points and provide present policy options to reduce levels of loss and waste. The study focuses on low and middle income countries of the region since high-income ECA states, primarily EU members have both already conducted extensive research and developed programs for loss and waste reduction and are also served directly by the major ongoing FUSIONS project in this sphere. This study was informed by in-depth a nalysis of priority agri-food chains in the region, selected on the basis of their economic importance, employment generation, contribution to foreign exchange and contribution to food security. At least one agri-food chain was selected for analysis from each of the following commodity groupings: cereals, fruits and vegetables, meat and dairy. Critical loss point analysis was then conducted for each of five agri-food chain phases, i.e. agricultural production, post-harvest handling and storage, processing and packaging, distribution, and consumption.
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    Technical book
    Overviews of food systems and agro-industry, value chains, and food loss and waste in the countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia 2018
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    Many countries in the region have seen positive changes in agricultural development in recent years associated with countries’ reforms during the transition period after the Soviet Union collapse, as well as due to support from international organizations. This report overviews eighteen countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The report examines agriculture sectors and food systems, relevant programmes, it reveals the status of agro-processing sector and value chain development activities, and it covers food loss and waste. In the final analysis it was concluded, that more research and data collection are needed to understand the extent of food loss and waste at regional and national levels. It is recommended to update the regional agro-industry briefs that were compiled by FAO in 2014, and to supplement the briefs with the information on value chain development and food waste and loss. The report encourages better dissemination and sharing of results from partner organizations’ work on value chains, post-harvest handling, agro-processing and particularly food loss and waste activities. The report highlights that food loss and waste in the Europe and Central Asia region is not addressed in a uniform way. The report recommends to conduct more farmers’ trainings in harvesting techniques and improving access to infrastructure and markets (especially for smallholders). Companies and service providers in cold value chains should be supported in handling and increasing capacities. One of the highlighted challenges is a matter of connecting rural producers with logistics centres. Better integration of smallholder farmers into value chains is needed. Improving the enabling environment is crucial and will depend on enhancing the capacity of supporting institutions, including better understandings of current situations and challenges in order to provide countries and relevant stakeholders with solutions on improving effectiveness of value chains, including measures to reduce food loss and waste at all stages of the value chain.
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    Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet
    Brochure
    Food Loss and Waste Reduction in Europe and Central Asia: Programme overview and approach to implementation 2021
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    The brochure provides an overview of the approach that FAO takes to support countries in non-EU Eastern Europe, the Western Balkans, the Caucasus, Turkey and Central Asia in tackling food loss and waste. This includes the development of national strategies and actions plans, activities to strengthen national capacities and food loss and waste measurement systems, promotion and enhancement of food recovery and redistribution systems, improvement of awareness as a means of changing behaviour. The approach is demonstrated on one of the projects implemented in the region.

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    The future of food and agriculture - Trends and challenges 2017
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    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.
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    FAO Strategy on Climate Change 2022–2031 2022
    The FAO Strategy on Climate Change 2022–2031 was endorsed by FAO Council in June 2022. This new strategy replaces the previous strategy from 2017 to better FAO's climate action with the Strategic Framework 2022-2031, and other FAO strategies that have been developed since then. The Strategy was elaborated following an inclusive process of consultation with FAO Members, FAO staff from headquarters and decentralized offices, as well as external partners. It articulates FAO's vision for agrifood systems by 2050, around three main pillars of action: at global and regional level, at country level, and at local level. The Strategy also encourages key guiding principles for action, such as science and innovation, inclusiveness, partnerships, and access to finance.
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    Food loss and waste in the food supply chain 2017
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    Reducing loss and waste throughout the food supply chain should be considered an effective solution to reduce the environmental impacts of agriculture, to improve the income and livelihood of the chain actors and to improve food and nutrition security for low-income consumers. An increasing urban population, changing food consumption pattern and trade globalization have rendered food supply chains extremely complex and lengthy, which calls for a change of mind-set from the traditional way of add ressing the causes of food loss at each stage of the food supply chain to an integrated approach. Investing in efficient, low-cost and sustainable processing technologies, adequate storage and packaging solutions, road infrastructure and market linkages as well as providing training and education to chain actors, including consumers, are among the tried and proven interventions which increase the efficiency of the chain and therefore lead to a reduction in food loss and waste.