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International Conference on Reducing Food Loss and Waste

24 July 2025, Video Message (Opening Remarks) by Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General, for the International Conference on Reducing Food Loss and Waste

Language English

Duration 5m8s

Edit Version Full Mix

Video Type Video Message

Date 07/22/2025

File size 562.81 MB

Unique ID UF1ACHR

Production details and shotlist

Script Excellences,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Reducing food loss and waste is a challenge that lies at the heart of global food security, climate action and sustainable development.

In 2011, FAO published the first global estimates revealing that approximately 30% of all food produced globally is either lost or wasted.

Since then, the urgency to tackle this challenge has gained unprecedented international recognition,

Including through the establishment of the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste on the date of 29 September, through FAO approval and endorsement by UNGA in 2019.

Enhanced data analysis over the years has further deepened our understanding of which foods are lost or wasted, where in the supply chain these losses occur, and how they vary across countries.

The criticality of food loss and waste is even more evident as we examine its far-reaching impact on economic development, natural resource depletion, energy use, the climate crisis, nutrition, and on rural livelihoods.

Despite ongoing efforts, progress is insufficient. No clear downward trend has emerged over the past decade.

According to the latest findings, in 2022 over 1 billion tonnes of food were wasted at the retail, food service and household levels.

This accounts for one-fifth of all food available to consumers.

And this is in addition to the 13% of food that is lost before it even reaches retail.

Clearly, we are still far from reaching the critical target of halving global per capita food waste and reducing losses along production and supply chains.

Such alarming levels of food loss and waste are not acceptable when at the same time 733 million people across the world are hungry, and over 2.8 billion people are unable to afford a healthy diet.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We need to work together to turn this immense challenge into an opportunity for the benefit of all.

We must think bigger and longer, design bigger and longer, and do more concrete, together.

China has been taking a leading role on food loss and waste at home, and in international fora such as the G20.

We need stronger engagement by all stakeholders—across public and private sectors, from farmers to families, and across all the parts.

We need to replicate and upscale proven best practices from around the world, ensuring they are adapted and adopted at local, national and global levels.

We urge greater innovation - in technology, in business models and in behaviour change strategies - to accelerate progress.

We must ensure better monitoring and accountability, grounded in robust, scientific, and evidence-based data, so we can track progress and adjust as needed.

According to the 2025 OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook launched a few days ago, by halving food loss and waste, we can reduce global agricultural greenhouse gas emissions by 4% and lift 153 million people out of undernourishment by the deadline of 2030.

Achieving this target is not just a social, economic and environmental imperative - but a moral one.

Reducing food loss and waste is about improving food security for vulnerable populations.

It is about building more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable agrifood systems.

Let us join forces to promote the vision of the Four Betters – better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind - into reality.

Thank you.

QU Dongyu, FAO Director General - Video

Video messages - Qu Dongyu, FAO Director General

2025 DG Video messages - ALL

07 - July

FLW Video message

International Conference on Reducing Food Loss and Waste

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