Trujillo principles an APEC  milestone  to reduce food loss

In a significant step forward to achieve food security and sustainability in the Asia-Pacific region, the agriculture ministers of the 21 member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum approved the “Trujillo Principles for Preventing and Reducing Food Loss and Waste.”

This document, named after the city of Trujillo where it was approved,  establishes a set of guidelines designed to address the critical problem of food loss and waste in the region.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), an estimated one-third of the food produced globally, equivalent to 1.3 billion metric tons, is lost or wasted each year along the food supply chain. This fact contrasts with the condition of more than 3 billion people who do not have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to eat a healthy diet.

APEC Ministers recognize that food loss and waste not only affect food availability, but also bring about significant economic, social and environmental costs for the region. Addressing this problem is essential to improving global food security, complementing its four dimensions: availability, access, utilization and stability. In addition, it contributes to facing environmental challenges, including climate change, and promotes the conservation of natural resources and biodiversity.

Trujillo principles

Key principles approved include:

1. Strengthening institutional frameworks: To prevent and reduce food loss and waste, it is essential to strengthen the institutions responsible for the agri-food system, including capacity building to design and implement efficient and effective policies and approaches.

2. Promoting public-private partnerships: Recognizing the important role of the private sector, collaboration with other relevant actors is encouraged, including international organizations, civil society and academia, to develop and implement context-sensitive  measures that address food loss and waste throughout the food supply chain.

3. Promoting research, innovation and digitalization: The principles highlight the importance of strengthening frameworks that facilitate research, innovation and the adoption of technologies to promote relevant and affordable solutions that improve the productivity, sustainability and efficiency of agri-food systems.

4. Promoting awareness and education: The principles underline the need to increase awareness of food loss and waste and strengthen the capacities of food supply chain actors to address this problem from a multi-sectoral approach.

5. Improving data collection and knowledge management: The development of mechanisms for voluntary collection and systematization of data is encouraged to support the quantification and monitoring of food loss and waste, thus contributing to the design of more effective policies and approaches.

6. Creating an enabling environment for investment in physical infrastructure: APEC economies should promote an enabling environment for investment in infrastructure that addresses food loss and waste at multiple stages of the food supply chain, improving productivity, food security and sustainability in the food industry.

7. Promoting food rescue and donation: The role of food rescue and donation in supporting people in vulnerable situations is recognized and APEC economies are urged to adopt policies that encourage these practices, contributing to the reduction of food loss and waste and food insecurity.

The “Trujillo Principles” are aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which seeks to halve per capita food waste at the retail and consumer levels, as well as reduce food losses along production and supply chains. These principles not only seek to improve food security, but also to address the environmental and economic challenges facing the region, promoting inclusive and equitable development for all.

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