Global perspectives on food waste 

Food loss and food waste are among the most urgent global challenges, requiring swift and effective intervention. Explore how two Danida fellows from Mexico and India plan to play their part in tackling the issue.

By Catherine Mossi and Elena Adamo 

Food loss and food waste represent some of the most pressing global challenges today, demanding immediate and effective action. FAO estimates that 14% of food is lost between harvest and distribution.

Denmark’s sector cooperation programmes around the world are addressing this issue directly by collaborating with professionals in policy, practice, and technical fields to drive change.

To further these efforts, twenty-four new Danida fellows, all partners in the strategic sector cooperation between Denmark and Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, South Africa, and Vietnam, joined the learning programme “Sustainable Food Systems: Resource Efficiency, Food Loss, and Food Waste.” The learning programme was facilitated by the University of Copenhagen’s Department of Food and Resource Economics from May 20 to June 7,2024. The programme aimed to enhance participants’ skills and to explore and discuss strategies for increasing resource efficiency and reducing food loss and waste in the food value chain.

Learning by seeing is always part of Danida Fellowship Centre’s learning programmes. We joined our Danida Fellows on a field trip to GASA Odense, a Danish cooperative owned by local producers that distributes fresh fruits and vegetables across the country, and to the waste incineration plant, Copenhagen Hill, to find out what the participants learned and would be able to use in their home countries.

Tips for sustainable fruit and vegetables

Ena Resendiz, from the Secretariat of Agricultural and Rural Development of Mexico, provides an overview of the food waste situation in Mexico. She shares her insights on combating food loss and food waste and offers tips on achieving more sustainable food systems, based on her visit to GASA Odense.

Reducing carbon footprints 

Using Copenhagen Hill as a source of inspiration, Heena Yadav elaborates on her strategies for reducing carbon footprints in India.

 

Catherine Mossi is Communications Officer at  MS TCDC – Training Centre for Development Cooperation. Elena Adamo is Digital Communications Officer at Danida Fellowship Centre. MS TCDC and Danida Fellowship Centre entered the partnership “Together for Impact” in 2022.

 

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