THE APPOINTMENT IN ROME FOR LA IS ALSO BACK THIS YEAR “NATIONAL FOOD EXPIRY PREVENTION DAY”THIS WILL FOCUS ON PROMOTING GOOD DAILY PRACTICES TO COMBAT THIS
“Make a difference. Stop #foodwaste”To make a difference, you have to stop it food waste: this is the warning that became the theme11th National Food Waste Prevention Dayscheduled for February 5.
To mark this date, an event is planned in Rome, at the headquarters ofOffice of the European Parliament in Italy and the Representation of the European Commission, which will provide an important opportunity to raise awareness among civil society, the scientific community and institutions on how the global economic context is affected by the way we buy, consume and deal with the problem by household food waste and we promote ahealthy and sustainable food. And all this becomes even more important when we think about the sustainability goals that followUnited Nations Agendato be achieved by 2030.
«The focus of the 2024 edition “Make the difference. Stop #foodwaste” cannot ignore the effects of the global crisis on domestic food waste – adds the agronomist and economist, founder of Last Minute Market, Andrea Segre -. Food inflation, which has still not been tamed, stagnant wages, the increase in the cost of living, combined with the geopolitical instability caused by wars in key areas for the production of raw materials and the transport of goods, determine a very complex context».
Good practices against food waste
This year’s National Food Waste Prevention Day will therefore aim to multiply the amount of food waste good daily practices at every level: citizens, government agencies, companies, associations and schools.
In fact, we are starting to prevent and reduce food waste in homes. Next, we need to focus on the food production, distribution and trade chain, in restaurants and canteens. Finally, it is necessary to analyze the purchasing behavior and habits, management and preservation of food. In all of this, we must always be aware of the close link between food waste and its impact on the environment.
«The increase in the cost of living prompts consumers to be more careful in their purchasing choices and reduce their habits, from a quantitative and qualitative perspective – continues Segrè -. Consumers all over the world are struggling with the shopping cart. On average, seven in ten say they will have to drastically cut back on their purchases. It is the result of a dramatic economic and social situation in all countries, with a very low confidence index for the future. In Italy alone, food waste has fallen by about 25%. This amounted to 469.4 grams per week (-125.9 grams compared to the summer of 2022 and -54.7 grams compared to last January’s survey).
In addition to reducing purchases, consumers, especially the poorest parts of the population, have been pushed to choose cheaper food options, often lowering the quality and nutritional value of food. All this had a double negative impact:
- Waste has increased because the purchased goods, especially fruits and vegetables, are more likely to spoil;
- Consumer health has deteriorated due to the reduction in diet quality».
Stop #foodwaste: new data on food waste
The appointment on the occasion of National Food Waste Day, which was first created by the campaign in 2014 Zero wastewith the University of Bologna – Distal and the Ministry of the Environment, is promoted by Last Minute Market, with the patronage of the Ministry of the Environment, the National Association of Italian Municipalities (ANCI) and RAI for Sustainability.
This meeting, under the motto “Stop #foodwaste“, will also be broadcast live official You Tube channel. It will provide an opportunity to review the new report of theOsservatorio Waste Watcher International which also collects data from “Caso Italia” 2024. This is a study promoted by the Zero Waste Campaign in synergy with the University of Bologna and the company IPSOS.
«The data from the Waste Watcher International Observatory’s 2024 report will reflect the complex scenario shaped by the economic, social and environmental implications of the crisis – concludes Andrea Segrè – and its many consequences for food waste, purchasing behavior and food consumption».
Finally, new this year is that anyone who wants to can talk about his or her initiatives for Food Waste Day. All information is available on the official website Zero waste.