The International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste - 2025

The International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste - 2025

Background   

As the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) marks its 80th anniversary under the global theme “365 Days of Action”, addressing food loss and waste (FLW) remains a critical priority for transforming agrifood systems; both globally and in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region. 

Globally, approximately 13 percent of food, equivalent to 1.25 billion tonnes, is lost between harvest and retail1. An additional 19 percent, 1.05 billion tonnes, is wasted at the consumption stage, with households accounting for nearly 60 percent of global food waste2. These figures are particularly alarming in light of the 2.33 billion people who experienced food insecurity in 2023, including one in eleven people facing hunger3. Moreover, FLW contributes to 8–10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating climate change and placing further strain on natural resources. 

In the NENA region, the challenge is further intensified by regional vulnerabilities. An estimated 15 percent of food is lost between post-harvest and retail, while up to 32 percent of FLW occurs at the consumer level. In high-income countries of the region, such as those in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), household food waste can reach 75 to 163 kilograms per capita annually4,5. Perishable commodities—including fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, and fish—are particularly affected, with over 30 percent wasted each year. These losses represent not only a missed opportunity to enhance food security but also a significant depletion of the region’s already scarce natural and economic resources. 

Reducing FLW is among the most cost-effective and impactful strategies for transforming agrifood systems. It contributes to reducing methane emissions, conserving land, water, and energy, and promoting more equitable food distribution. Furthermore, valorizing food processing by-products can enhance the economic, social, and environmental sustainability of food systems, while supporting the transition to circular economy models6. 

However, no single actor can address FLW alone. Coordinated, multi-stakeholder action is essential—engaging governments, civil society, the private sector, consumers, researchers, and academia. Effective solutions require collaboration across the food supply chain, strengthened networks, awareness-raising, inclusive dialogue, and the scaling up of proven practices. In the NENA region and beyond, collective action is key to achieving meaningful progress in reducing food loss and waste. 

Rational  

Tackling FLW across the agrifood value chain, from production to consumption, can significantly improve the efficiency, sustainability, and resilience of food systems, helping ensure that more food reaches those in need. 

Recognizing the urgency of this global challenge, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 74/209 on 19 December 2019, designating 29 September as the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (IDAFLW). This annual observance serves as a global call to action, encouraging governments at all levels, the private sector, civil society, and individuals to intensify efforts to reduce FLW and enhance food security7. 

This year, the NENA region once again joins the global community in commemorating IDAFLW. The Day highlights the need for coordinated, multi-stakeholder action—as no single actor can address FLW alone. In this context, the FAO Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa (FAO-RNE) has convened a diverse group of stakeholders whose commitment and innovative approaches reflect the growing recognition of FLW as a shared responsibility and a key entry point for transforming agrifood systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind. 

Objectives  

To mark the IDAFLW 2025, the FAO-RNE is organizing a regional awareness-raising workshop. This year’s observance provides an opportunity to: 

Highlight the importance of addressing FLW as a critical component of agrifood systems transformation in the NENA region;