FAO urges cuts to food loss and waste to protect forests

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has called for stronger action to reduce food loss and waste, arguing that doing so would help transform agrifood systems and ease pressure on the world’s forests, according to a press release. FAO Director-General QU Dongyu delivered the message on 29 September 2026 during a joint FAO-UN Environment Programme event in Rome marking the seventh International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste. He noted that saving food from being lost or wasted also saves nutrients, natural resources and money. The event took place at FAO headquarters during the 28th session of FAO’s Committee on Forestry (COFO28) and World Forest Week. It underscored the links between food loss and waste reduction and forest conservation.

Globally, 13.4 percent of food produced is lost after harvest and before reaching retail, while 19 percent of food available to consumers is wasted at retail, in food service and in households. These losses also represent a considerable waste of the resources used to produce the food. When lost or wasted food decomposes, particularly under anaerobic conditions in landfills, it generates methane, a potent short-lived greenhouse gas. Food loss and waste account for around 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Fruits and vegetables experience the highest rates of food loss.

FAO has estimated that approximately 1.4 billion hectares of land are used to produce food that is ultimately never consumed. Agricultural expansion remains the leading driver of deforestation globally. Reducing food loss and waste could help make better use of existing agricultural land and ease pressure on forests. Addressing the problem could also improve the availability of nutritious food. Despite international commitments, the world has made no apparent progress in reducing food losses since 2015.

The world remains far off track from achieving Sustainable Development Goal target 12.3, which calls for halving per capita global food waste at retail and consumer levels and reducing food losses along production and supply chains by 2030. FAO is working with Members and partners to improve measurement, strengthen policies and scale up practical solutions.

“To protect forests, we must transform agrifood systems; to transform agrifood systems, we must reduce food loss and waste; and by reducing food loss and waste, we help safeguard forests,” Qu said.

The event also featured a video message from UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen. A panel discussion explored opportunities for forestry, climate and environmental action.

Making food loss data more accessible

To mark the International Day, FAO released an interactive Food Loss Index data map presenting food loss estimates for 2024 at the subregional and regional levels. The map will be permanently featured on FAO’s Technical Platform on the Measurement and Reduction of Food Loss and Waste. It aims to make regional food loss data more accessible and support efforts to improve the measurement of food losses. Its publication is part of FAO’s ongoing work with Members and partners to strengthen food loss measurement. The effort supports evidence-based policies aimed at reducing losses across agrifood systems.