Sunday, October 15, 2023

On Friday, September 29, 2023 , the University of Nairobi hosted the 4th commemoration of the International Day of Awareness on Food loss and Waste (IDAFLW) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, United Nations, Food and Agriculture Organisation, Food Banking and other stakeholders.

The objective of the day is to increase awareness on food loss and waste that is affecting the globe and its direct impact to the development of the continent. The theme of this year’s #FLWday was,’Stop Food Loss and waste, For the people, for the Planet.

Prof. Stephen Kiama, The University’s Vice-Chancellor cautioned the need to urgently consolidate ways of reducing waste to every player on the value chain, he highlighted, ‘Most farmers do not know what to do to reduce post-harvest loss of their produce.’ He called on the stakeholders present to partner with the University, just like Elgon Kenya in the establishment of the Agricultural Innovation Centre and have a one-stop shop for information for farmers.

Prof. Kiama highlighted the various achievements and the role that the University is playing in the contribution of reducing food loss and waste through the Faculty of Agriculture and various researchers and research output.

Amb. Carla Mucavi, Food Agriculture Organization (FAO) representative in Kenya, was elated that this year’s commemoration happened at a University citing that, all solutions originate from universities and research is important to this conversation. She also called for a collaborative approach to handle the issue of food loss and waste. Amb. Curla reiterated on the commitment that FAO plays on the mandate of reducing waste. She called for impact on everyone on the Agri-system in attaining Goal 2 of the SDGs. She pledged support to the Kenyan Government on this mandate.

She highlighted the roadmap for the next 10 years that FAO has been given this mandate. She mentioned an all-inclusive approach, and called on everyone to play a role in reducing food waste.

Engineer Lagat, PS, Ministry of Agriculture mentioned that, ‘The most Food Waste is experienced at the farm or on production. He announced a ten-year strategy that the ministry has for the country to reduce the inadequacy in access to information on how to handle primary food, empowerment of farmers, continuous awareness creation of food loss and waste.

Retail and Consumer Behavior: In developed countries, a significant portion of food waste occurs at the consumer and retail levels, often due to over-purchasing, improper storage, or cosmetic standards that lead to the rejection of perfectly edible food.

Prof. Jane Ambuko as she was moderating the program mentioned, ‘The International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste serves as a reminder of the urgent need to address this global challenge. Food loss and waste have far-reaching economic, environmental, and humanitarian consequences, but they are not insurmountable problems. By adopting more sustainable practices at every level of the food supply chain and raising awareness among consumers, we can take significant steps towards reducing food loss and waste. This not only benefits us today but also ensures a more sustainable and food-secure future for generations to come.

Watch the event here