Reducing Food Waste
In the 01CMember Countries
COMCEC
waste was reduced by 20% in Industrialized Asia and South and Southeast Asia an estimated
250-150 million tennes CO2 e ceuld be avoided, and 360-630 million tennes CO2 e if 50% ef feed
waste ceuld be avoided (see Figure 21).
Figure 21: GHG emissions avoided if a 20% reduction in food waste was realized in
industrialized Asia
30,00%
25,00%
20,00%
15,00%
10,00%
5,00%
0,00% SEeE I
Agriculture Post-harvest Processing Distribution Consumption
Source: WRAP (2015)
Reducing feed waste is critical for countries that face limited possibilities to increase their feed
production, and who depend on feed imports to meet their feed needs, such is the case for most
OIC Member Countries. The inability to supply feed to meet the needs ef many OIC country
populations is due to the lew percentage ef agricultural land used to grew crops and rear
animals. The total average cultivated area in the OIC Member Countries is 26%. This is lower
than the average for ether developing countries (33%) and the world (31%)(SESRIC,2016). This
is possibly due to many OIC Member Countries being arid and therefore net conducive for
agricultural production. In addition to the restricted availability ef arable land, water is a scarce
resource in many OIC Member Countries, particularly these in West Asia, the Middle East and
North Africa. Pressures on limited water supplies are expected to increase with increased
population growth and increased water use as countries become mere developed. These natural
resource constraints can be eased by reducing food waste and therefore reducing the demands
to increase locally-grown or reared feed.
A mere holistic option tabled for strengthening the feed supply chain, including a reduction in
feed waste, and enhancing feed availability is through the adoption ef sustainable feed systems
(HLPE, 2014). ‘Sustainable feed systems’ are defined by their ability to produce the expected
positive results ef a feed system, namely feed security new and for future generations. The three
dimensions ef sustainability (environment, social and economic) interact with the four
dimensions ef feed security (availability, access, utilization and stability). A recent study
published by the hAO (2014) suggests a reduction in feed waste ceuld improve the sustainability
ef feed systems, which would have a positive impact on the economic, social and environmental
benefits that would offset the costs ef implemented measures to prevent feed waste. heed waste
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