FAO launches regional capacity development series to strengthen measurement and action on food loss and waste in the Near East and North Africa

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa (RNE) has launched today its regional webinar series, "From Measurement to Impact: Strengthening Capacities on FAO Tools to Measure, Analyze, Reduce, and Valorize Food Loss and Waste in NENA Agrifood Systems", bringing together government officials, technical experts, researchers, development partners, and practitioners from across the region.

The six-part series aims to strengthen regional capacities to address food loss and waste (FLW) through the practical application of FAO tools and methodologies that support measurement, analysis, reduction, and valorization. This initiative contributes to accelerating progress towards Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12.3 and advancing more sustainable, resilient, and efficient agrifood systems.

"Food loss and waste is not only an agrifood systems challenge, it is a development, environmental, and economic challenge for the NENA region," said Abdulhakim Elwaer, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative, FAO Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa. "Reliable data is the foundation of effective action. Through this webinar series, FAO is supporting countries and partners to strengthen their capacities to measure food loss and waste, generate evidence, identify solutions and translate knowledge into meaningful impact across agrifood systems."

Food loss is estimated at approximately 15 percent across the region, while food waste remains high, generating significant economic losses, environmental degradation, and additional pressure on already scarce natural resources. As the most water-scarce region in the world, NENA faces growing challenges related to climate change, land degradation, resource constraints and food import dependency. Reducing food loss and waste represents one of the most cost-effective opportunities to improve food availability, enhance resource-use efficiency and strengthen resilience.

The inaugural webinar, "Food Loss and Waste in the NENA Region and the SDG 12.3 Framework", established a common understanding of FLW concepts, regional trends, key drivers, and their impacts on food security, nutrition, and environmental sustainability. Participants also examined the SDG 12.3 framework and FAO's role in supporting countries to monitor and reduce food loss and waste.

FAO experts introduced the Organization's integrated suite of tools and methodologies, including the Food Loss Index (FLI), Fish Loss Assessment Methods, the Food Loss Application (FLAPP), and OptiWaste. Together, these tools enable countries to identify loss hotspots, strengthen data systems, design targeted interventions, and promote circular economy solutions through the valorization of agrifood by-products.

The remaining webinars will progressively explore food loss and waste measurement methodologies, Food Loss Index implementation, fisheries and aquaculture loss assessment, value-chain analysis, food waste reduction strategies and circular economy approaches that transform food loss and waste into valuable resources.

These sessions will support countries and stakeholders in moving from measurement to impact and accelerating progress towards SDG Target 12.3, while contributing to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems.