Nairobi:Every day, over a billion meals go uneaten worldwide due to factors such as excess food production, spoilage, or poor meal planning, as highlighted by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

According to Wam, the issue of food loss and waste is being spotlighted on the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste on September 29, organized by UNEP and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). This year's focus is on the connection between food waste and the protection of forests, as well as the promotion of sustainable agrifood systems.

Michael Muratha, a Programme Manager at UNEP, emphasized that utilizing food more efficiently can alleviate the pressure on land and forests and contribute to feeding more people. Healthy forests play a crucial role in food production by protecting soils and regulating rainfall. UNEP is advocating for measures such as better food handling, storage, and transport to reduce losses, and investing in cold chain systems for perishable foods.

Efforts are also being made to redirect safe surplus food to those in need, including children in underserved communities. Additionally, UNEP supports initiatives involving artificial intelligence to monitor and reduce food waste, as seen in a UNEP-supported project with 13 hotels where AI tools significantly reduced breakfast waste.

The Food Waste Breakthrough initiative, launched by UNEP and partners at the UN COP31 climate change conference, aims to halve food waste by 2030, cut methane emissions, and bolster climate action. Muratha underscored that addressing food waste could help mitigate over $1 trillion lost annually due to food loss, offering significant savings for cities and households.

Muratha concluded that while these efforts alone won't end hunger, they are essential steps toward creating more secure and sustainable food systems.