Peru Proposes Food Loss Reduction Principles at APEC Forum

Peru is advocating for the reduction of food loss across the supply chain as part of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum’s sectoral meetings. The country is spearheading the development of key principles aimed at preventing and reversing food loss, a proposal that has been collaboratively developed with the other 20 APEC economies. Peru anticipates that these principles will be approved by the Agriculture Ministers during the APEC Food Security Ministerial Meeting (FSMM) in Trujillo on August 18, 2024.

Renato Reyes Tagle, Peru’s Senior Official for the APEC forum, highlighted the importance of these proposed principles, emphasizing their potential to address the economic, social, and environmental impacts of food loss. The focus is on the entire supply chain, from post-harvest to consumption, aiming to establish best practices for reducing food loss on a global scale.

Reyes Tagle referenced data from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), noting that approximately 30% of global food production is lost or wasted, with Peru experiencing a higher rate of 47%. The principles under consideration include the training of individuals involved at all levels of the supply chain and increasing public awareness and education on food waste prevention, particularly among youth and households.

The initiative underscores the collaborative efforts needed from various economies, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United States, and China, to effectively tackle this significant challenge.