An estimated 32% of all food produced in the world is lost or wasted from farm to fork. This huge level of inefficiency has economic, social and environmental impacts. Food loss and waste causes about $940 billion per year in economic losses. It exacerbates food insecurity and malnutrition. And food that is ultimately lost or wasted consumes about a quarter of all water used by agriculture, requires cropland area the size of China and is responsible for an estimated 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Reducing this food loss and waste is a “triple win.” Reductions can save money for farmers, companies and households. Wasting less means feeding more, and reductions alleviate pressure on climate, water and land resources.

Champions 12.3 is a high-profile, voluntary coalition of leaders from governments, businesses, international organizations, research institutions and civil society dedicated to inspiring ambition, mobilizing action and accelerating progress toward achieving SDG Target 12.3 by 2030.

Members are senior executives, including ministers, chief executive officers and executive directors. These leaders preside over institutions that have the ability to impact food loss and waste reduction at scale and that are dedicated to meeting Target 12.3. 

UN Sustainable Development Goal 12 strives to “ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.” Its third target (Target 12.3) calls for halving global food loss and waste by 2030. 

The Champions are accelerating progress toward meeting Target 12.3 by:

1. Dedicating to meeting Target 12.3. They:

  • Contribute to the global achievement of Target 12.3.
  • Encourage others to pursue efforts to reduce food loss and waste.

2. Leading by example on how to reduce food loss and waste. They:

  • Measure and report on food loss and waste.
  • Implement programs, practices, and investments to reduce food loss and waste within their own operations, increasingly with suppliers or clients (whichever stakeholder group is most relevant).

3. Showcasing successes and communicating the importance of food loss and waste reduction. They: 

  • Raise awareness among governments, the private sector and citizens about the issue of food loss and waste, the benefits of addressing it and how to do so.
  • Publicize and celebrate successes — their own and those of others — in reducing food loss and waste, thereby educating and motivating others.

4. Advocating for improving the enabling conditions for reducing food loss and waste. They:

  • Leverage relationships to persuade development banks, governments, donors and the private sector to increase financing for strategies needed to meet Target 12.3.
  • Encourage efforts to close data gaps and build the capacity needed to meet Target 12.3.

5. Acting together to solve specific challenges facing the food loss and waste reduction movement.

Find Champions 12.3’s annual reports on global progress toward Target 12.3, the business case for reducing food loss and waste and other reports here.

Photo Credit: Anda Ambrosini on Unsplash.