By Princess-Ekwi Ajide, Abuja
The United States has announced a 10-million dollar investment to launch a Food Loss and Waste Accelerator.
The project will be implemented by United States Agency for International Development, USAID in coordination with the Department of States.
The project is aimed at reducing food loss and waste to help ensure that more food can make it off the farm and into the homes of those who need it the most.
Through the U.S. government’s flagship food security initiative, Feed the Future, the Accelerator will support partner country policies and collaborate with businesses to end the over one-third of the world’s food which is lost or wasted each year globally.
Inadequate storage, pests, spoilage, and spillage are the causes of almost half of food loss in low- and middle-income countries.
Food loss not only undermines efforts to end hunger and malnutrition, but has serious environmental implications hence addressing food loss and waste, presents an opportunity for a “triple win” and is critical for advancing global food security and nutrition, climate resilience, and economic development.
With a focus on nutritious value chains and businesses led by women and youth, USAID’s Food Loss and Waste Accelerator will provide co-financing for micro, small, and medium enterprises through the Feed the Future Market Systems and Partnerships’ Food Loss and Waste Partnership Facility to enable businesses invest in climate-smart practices such as sustainable cold chain, community composting, and business models that intentionally minimize production waste and post-harvest losses.
Working with partner governments, the Accelerator will provide support for policies that address food loss and waste, including identification of points along commodity chains where food is being lost or wasted.
This will provide cost savings and reducing methane emissions to enable governments take effective action that improves food security.
