Solving the food waste problem
The final reports on food waste in Aotearoa – New Zealand’s have been presented by the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor, Dame Juliet Gerrard. The launch event, organised by New Zealand Food Waste Champions 12.3 (NZFWC 12.3), brought together 120 key leaders from our food industry and wider sector, along with Minister for the Environment Penny Simmonds to hear the recommendations.
We’ve been following the work of NZFWC 12.3 since we got behind the organisation not long after it was launched in March 2020 with the ambition of radically reducing food waste and the associated environmental impacts.
A third of food produced globally is wasted. This is equivalent to 1.3 billion tonnes of food that is never eaten. When food is thrown away, it can produce harmful emissions in landfill. It also wastes the energy, fuel and dollars that went into producing it in the first place.
Our attitude to food has become unnecessarily disposable and food waste has been ranked as the third best global solution in addressing climate change. This is a powerful motivator for action and the greatest gains in reducing food waste start with addressing industry systems.
Towards the end of 2022, NZFWC 12.3 launched their Kai Commitment; a voluntary agreement between leading food business in Aotearoa who have committed to measuring and reducing their food waste and associated emissions. It is the start of something big and a sign that businesses are seeking to tackle the issue proactively.
Kaitlin Dawson, Executive Officer of NZFWC 12.3, is leading the initiative with support from Miranda Mirosa, Director of the University of Otago Food Waste Innovation Research Theme, and Deborah Manning, Founder of Kiwi Harvest and NZ Food Network. Both are NZFWC 12.3 Board Members.
"Food waste is a design flaw,” says Kaitlin.
“It occurs at every stage in the process which is why collaboration from across the sector is not only desired, but also necessary. The programme and vision we have for a future where collaboration is the norm, will mend the breakdowns from farm to fork. We are confident that if food waste can be designed in, it can be designed out and will achieve environmental and economic value.”
The Kai Commitment was launched in 2022 by then Prime Minister Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern. Since then, four further reports on food waste have been published by the Dame Juliet Gerrard and her team. The final ones coming in under a new administration. With the evidence-base complete, Aotearoa – New Zealand has the information it needs to move forward with a food waste reduction plan.
Image: NZFWC 123 Final Food Waste Report Launch