Mission I Projects I Successes

Together against food waste and loss: SAVE FOOD. SAVE FOOD is a joint initiative of the

Food and Agriculture Organization

of the United Nations (FAO), the United

Nations Environment Programme (UNEP),

Messe Düsseldorf, and interpack, the

leading global trade fair for packaging

and processes. Our goal is to fight global

food waste and loss. Through a global

alliance of all stakeholders.

Dear Readers,

Just imagine that global food loss and waste

were a country. It would have a surface area larger

than my own homeland, China. Its fields and

meadows would be producing food that nobody

would eat. It would be the largest user of water

for irrigation and the third-largest generator of

greenhouse gases. It would be a country unfit

for human habitation. This example shows how

important it is – and indeed vital to our survival –

to fight food waste and loss.

The FAO has joined forces with UNEP, Messe

Düsseldorf and interpack to form SAVE FOOD

in order to take concrete steps to address this

problem – by involving and networking with as

many actors as possible in all areas of business

and civil society. It is this all-embracing approach

that makes SAVE FOOD so special.

This brochure explains the mission of SAVE FOOD

and the activities it undertakes. But it is also an

appeal to everyone to do more within their sphere

of influence.

The initiative already has more than 300 members:

driving forces from all important business sectors,

institutions and organizations. But we need many

more like-minded actors to join us in our efforts –

so that the country I just told you about will shrink,

until it disappears completely off the map. That

must be the goal we all strive for.

Yours most sincerely

Dr. Ren Wang, Assistant Director-General, Agriculture and Consumer Protection Department (AGD), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Editorial 03

View a video clip of Ren Wang’s speech delivered at the SAVE FOOD Congress 2014.

One third of all food is either wasted or lost – an

amount that would be enough to meet global food

needs. Together with our members from industry,

politics and civil society, SAVE FOOD aims to drive

innovations, promote interdisciplinary

dialogue and spark off debates in

order to generate solutions,

across the entire value

chain “from field to

fork”. By involving all

actors. And on a

broad front.

In concrete terms,

this means:

- Correcting the

policy framework.

We call on the global

community to meet its

millennium goals. Eradicating

hunger is among the top priorities here.

- Optimizing agricultural practices. We urgently

advocate more sustainability, new methods for

efficient crop cultivation and harvesting, and

fighting losses through conservation of resources.

- Shaping food production more sensibly. We

appeal to enterprises to steer demand and con-

sumer behaviour better and to choose more

sustainable production methods.

- Promoting packaging and process technology.

We call for smart and sustainable production and

packaging concepts to improve the supply of food

to a growing global population.

- Motivating retailers. We see potentials

for optimizing assortments, the

supply chain, logistics and

waste recycling in order

to combat food losses.

- Achieving a change

in attitude. We want

to fight the wide-

spread “throwaway”

mindset and raise

people’s awareness

of and respect for

food.

In all of these areas,

SAVE FOOD intends to act as

a networking facilitator, a mover and

shaker, and an idea generator.

SAVE FOOD INITIATIVE: Our mission and objectives.

04 The idea behind SAVE FOOD

OUR STRATEGY IN BRIEF:

• Creating awareness

• Establishing creative networks

• Developing fundamental programmes

• Supporting concrete investment programmes and projects

Friedbert Klefenz, President of interpack 2014 and of Bosch Packaging Technology

AN IDEA CONQUERS THE WORLD: Milestones of SAVE FOOD.

SAVE FOOD was set in motion at the end of

2009 by Messe Düsseldorf and interpack, the

leading global trade fair for packaging and

processes. The Initiative gained international

standing through the announcement of its

cooperation with the FAO. It celebrated its

premiere at the first SAVE FOOD Congress,

held concurrently with interpack 2011. The

main theme was: fighting food loss and waste.

JAN 27

2011

Kick-off Berlin

Presentation to the public

The new approach was the close collaboration

of all stakeholders across every stage of the

value chain. With the participation of UNEP

in 2012, the Initiative gained further compe-

tencies and capacities, allowing it to pursue

its goal even more effectively, namely to put

food waste and loss high on the political and

economic agenda and to rally all stakeholders

from industry, politics and civil society in order

to develop approaches to address this issue.

END

2009

Initial spark Düsseldorf

Developing the idea

MAY 5

2011

International arena New York

Presentation to the UN

Premiere Düsseldorf

Alongside interpack 2011

MAY 12–18

2011OCT 16–21

2011

Introduction of the initiative Rome

At the FAO Headquarters during World Food Day

Sustainability Day Düsseldorf

Presentation of the SAVE FOOD exhibition

NOV 4

2011

06 SAVE FOOD Milestones

Joint declaration of intent Rome

Formalization of the collaboration with FAO

MAY 13

2013

Attentive listeners: young people at the “Schools Day” during the SAVE FOOD Congress 2014.

International presence

Events in Moscow, Chicago

END

2011

DEC 7

2012

German Sustainability Award Düsseldorf

Honorary award for UNEP President

OCT 3

2013

German Unification Day Rome

Anchoring the initiative in the minds of FAO’s diplomat contacts

SAVE FOOD Milestones 07

NOV 26–28

2013

Networking in Africa

As part of the FPPE Symposium in Nairobi

MAY 7–14

2014

Centre stage in Düsseldorf

International Congress at interpack with exhibition in the innovationparc

Launch of the Mango Project Kenya

Goal: Massive cut in losses

2015

08 The 2014 Congress

THE SAVE FOOD CONGRESS:

Finding solutions. Through international dialogue.

How can we effectively stem food waste and

loss? Where are the levers in the value chain?

The key features of the SAVE FOOD Congress

staged alongside interpack 2014 were sharing of

experience and answers on an international level.

Prominent speakers from politics and business,

industrialized and developing countries, leading

NGOs and research institutes all stated their

positions. Pioneering studies and innovations

were presented. The proceedings were reported

globally. The signal being sent out to the world was:

We have the collective will to find solutions. Now.

The Congress showed how SAVE FOOD intends

to achieve progress: by establishing forums for

dialogue, to ensure that visions will be translated

into commitment and words are followed by

action. Illustrating this, the packaging and process

industry presented results in the innovationparc –

such as the latest smart packaging solutions. In

order to encourage the younger generation to

address this topic, the SAVE FOOD School Awards

were launched. Young people were given the

opportunity to develop their own ideas and projects

to fight food waste and loss. The winning entries

were exhibited at the SAVE FOOD Congress.

Developing countries Industrialized nations

Beginning Value chain End

Loss

and

was

te in

%

30%food waste

40%food loss

The 2014 Congress 09

Youssou N’Dour, FAO ambassador and speaker at the SAVE FOOD Congress 2014

What SAVE FOOD can achieve is demonstrated

by the Mango Project in Kenya. The starting

point was a study by SAVE FOOD that revealed a

dramatic statistic: 300,000 tonnes of the mango

harvest is lost because the fruits are not picked in

time or cannot be processed quickly enough.

Lack of technology is one aspect, another is

inadequate storage and transport. But there is

no lack of commitment among the many farmers

whose livelihood depends on the harvests of this

national crop. The study was conducted by a

respected consulting institute and SAVE FOOD

member and it brought together further members

from the packaging and process industry.

SAVE FOOD SUCCESSES: Example: the Mango Project.

SAVE FOOD Successes 11

Possible solutions were presented at the

SAVE FOOD Congress 2014. The overarching

approach is integrative. It includes more targeted

selection of locations, building up an efficient sup-

ply chain, using modern packaging and processing

technologies, and generating new product ideas

for the domestic and export market, such as

mango as dried fruit.

The Mango Project will start in early 2015.

The investments are being supported by the

Vision 2030 programme of the Kenyan govern-

ment. Ambitious target: to reduce losses by

30,000 tonnes. The successes will benefit the

local farmers and contribute substantially to

securing their livelihood. From the field to the world’s tables: mango being packed as dried fruit for export.

Reduction of food losses through the Mango Project in Kenya

300,000 tLosses I base year 2014

270,000tLosses I target for 2016

PROJECTS BY SAVE FOOD: To instigate change. In our own minds.

12 Projects by SAVE FOOD

One of the key tasks on SAVE FOOD’s agenda is

making decision-makers and consumers aware

of food waste and loss. We are endeavouring

to bring about a massive change in attitude.

Examples of our activities are:

The SAVE FOOD exhibition: Using photos, films

and exhibits, this exhibition opens the public’s

eyes to the problem of waste and loss, while

also presenting the Initiative, its members, and

proposed solutions. The exhibition was first staged

in 2011 alongside interpack and has since been

shown regularly at different locations around the

world.

“Global food losses and waste” study: This study,

conducted jointly with the FAO, reveals the key

facts and figures. 1.3 billion tonnes of food is

lost or wasted every year. A stronger technology

transfer to Africa and tighter coordination of the

various actors in the value chain are essential to

remedy this state of affairs.

“Appropriate Packaging Solutions” study:

The study considers the situation in the

packaging industry in the developing countries.

Findings: more investment in adequate

packaging and process technology solutions is

needed, for example to keep food edible longer.

However, incentives also depend on political and

economic conditions.

World Food Day: SAVE FOOD used the platform

provided by the FAO World Food Week 2011 in

Rome to bring the Initiative to the attention of high-

calibre visitors from international business and

politics, by means of lectures and the interactive

exhibition.

World Environment Day: “THINK. EAT. SAVE.” was

the motto of the World Environment Day 2013. It

served to raise awareness internationally regarding

the link between food losses and hunger and

reinforced the idea behind SAVE FOOD.

Source: FAO study “Global food losses and waste”, 2011

Farming

Post-harvest

Processing

Distribution

Consumption

Global losses or waste. Example: Fruits and vegetables (one unit = 2%)

Europe

North America & Oceania

Asia (industrialized)

Africa (Subsahara)

North Africa, West & Central Asia

South & East Asia

Latin America

Projects by SAVE FOOD 13

14 Projects by the FAO

PROJECTS BY THE FAO: Under the SAVE FOOD banner.

THE PROJECTS ADDRESS ALL STAGES ALONG THE VALUE CHAIN

Farming Post-harvest Processing Distribution Consumption

The FAO in turn drives pioneering projects to

fight food waste and loss – and also uses the

SAVE FOOD forum and alliances in order to

generate solutions faster. The map below gives

an overview of these projects around the world.

They address all different areas of the value

chain and range from comprehensive agricultural

programmes in Burundi to multi-stakeholder work-

shops on food security in Sudan.

Projects by the FAO 15

Learn more about the FAO projects.

Counting those applying through the FAO,

SAVE FOOD has more than 300 members. The list

includes leading global enterprises, organizations

and research institutes and reflects the all-

encompassing approach of SAVE FOOD.

Become a part of our Initiative and share our

common goal: to fight against global food waste

and loss!

BE A PART OF OUR MISSION: Become a sponsoring member.

16 Sponsoring Membership

YOUR BENEFITS: PRESENCE, INFORMATION AND NETWORKING.

• Inclusion in the FAO’s worldwide communication

• Provision of studies on food loss and waste

• Regular networking of members at events dealing with related topics

• Opportunity to present your projects and solutions at the worldwide SAVE FOOD exhibition and on the SAVE FOOD website

• Use of the SAVE FOOD logo to draw attention to your membership

• Regular newsletter with the possibility to include your own contributions

• SAVE FOOD promotional and information material

We look forward to your interest and support. For more information, visit www.save-food.org

Werner M. Dornscheidt, President and CEO, Messe Düsseldorf,initiator of SAVE FOOD

AND FINALLY, A FEW FIGURES: Food for thought

18 Figures

750 billion $is the value of annual food losses (excl. fish and seafood)*

of the meat produced worldwide every year is thrown away: the weight of 75 million cows**

1/5are thrown away per person and year in Europe and North America**

115kg

3.3 GTCO2 equivalent is the size of the carbon footprint of global wastage and loss (GT = gigatonnes)*

of arable land is used to grow food that is then lost*

28%

* Food wastage footprint. Impacts on natural resources. FAO, 2013.

** Global food losses and waste. Key findings. SAVE FOOD 2011.

potato sacks could be filled with the volume of tuber and root crops lost in North America and Oceania***

1 billion

Mahatma Gandhi

SAVE FOOD Initiative

Messe DüsseldorfP.O. Box 10 10 0640001 DüsseldorfGermanyTel.: + 49 (0) 211/45 60-01Fax: + 49 (0) 211/45 60-668

www.save-food.org

An initiative of Messe Düsseldorf in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).