The International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (IDAFLW) is observed annually on September 29

 The International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (IDAFLW) is observed annually on September 29 to raise awareness of the importance of reducing food loss and waste. The United Nations General Assembly designated this day, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) co-convene the events. 

The 2024 IDAFLW will have the theme "Climate Finance for Food Loss and Waste Reduction". 

Some reasons why reducing food loss and waste is important include: 

Resource waste: When food is lost or wasted, the resources used to produce it, such as water, land, energy, labor, and capital, go to waste. 

Greenhouse gas emissions: When food loss and waste is disposed of in landfills, it contributes to climate change by emitting greenhouse gases. 

Sustainable Development Goal 12.3: This goal aims to halve global food waste per capita by 2030. 

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – specifically SDG 12, Target 12.3 – calls for halving per-capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reducing food losses along production and supply chains. Target 16 of the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) among other issues, also calls for “halving global food waste by 2030”. We need to urgently accelerate the pace of actions to reduce food loss and waste, and transform agrifood systems, so as to meet the SDG 12.3 Target, and that set by the GBF – with tangible benefits for people and the planet

The world wastes about 19% of food produced, which is around 1.05 billion metric tons of food. This amounts to about 174 pounds of food wasted per person each year. 

Here are some other statistics about food waste: 

Sources of food waste: 60% of food waste comes from households, 28% from restaurants, and 12% from retailers. 

Environmental impact: Food waste contributes to 8–10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. 

Economic impact: Food waste costs an estimated $1 trillion per year. 

Landfill waste: Food waste makes up 24% of landfill waste. 

Combusted solid waste: Food waste makes up 22% of combusted solid waste. 

Food insecurity: About 1/3 of the world's population doesn't have adequate access to food. 

Food waste is a global concern because it has a negative impact on the environment and the economy. Rotting food in landfills creates methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. Food waste also prevents nutrients from being cycled into the soil, which is important for gardening and landscaping.

 With best regard