Agriculture, Food & Waste
Our food systems are critical to reducing emissions. In total, food production solutions can cut emissions by 6.7 Gt a year. Reducing food loss and waste while shifting towards more sustainable diets could reduce emissions by more than 2 Gt a year.
Food spoilage occurs across the chain — from farm to fork — and switching to a plant-rich diet is one of the most important things people can do to lessen their carbon footprint. It’s also great for your health.
Actions are required at every level: government, private sector and the public.
- Measure food loss, create waste baselines and implement strategies to reduce food waste
- Set and promote science-based targets to increase the availability and uptake of plant-rich diets, increase sustainable production and minimize food waste
- Inform consumers and producers about food choices and how to reduce food loss waste across the supply chain
- Align national diet recommendations with climate goals
- Promote and support climate-smart and sustainable agriculture practices
- Measure and report company food loss and waste
- Adopt a corporate commitment to halve food loss and waste by 2030
- Work with suppliers and clients to find solutions that reduce food loss and waste across the supply chain, targeting waste hotspots like weak links in the cold chain
- Review packaging, provide clear storage and freezing guidance, eliminate ‘display until’ dates and clarify best before/use-by dates
- Avoid ‘Buy One Get One Free’ food promotions if they are likely to cause customers to buy more than they can eat
- Repurpose extra-ripe foods in-store
- Integrate corporate food loss and waste strategies across your company, including by making it easier for consumers and employees to limit their food waste
- Set up processes for surplus food rescue to transfer healthy, uneaten food to services who can distribute it to those in need
Join Race to Zero global campaign that is rallying support from business, cities, regions, and investors for a healthy, resilient, zero carbon recovery.
- Urge your politicians to propose ambitious policies for waste reduction and nature-based agriculture
- Push for and support policies for waste reduction and nature-based agriculture
- Speak up at work to make waste reduction a collective issue
- Advocate for waste reduction and nature-based agriculture in your organization
- Talk to friends about the need for waste reduction and nature-based agriculture
- Attend or arrange events or communities for waste reduction and nature-based agriculture
- Shift towards a more plant-rich diet
- Plan meals, write shopping lists, use portion-sizing tools for rice and pasta and cook with leftovers
- Buy only what you can eat or save
- Embrace ‘ugly’ fruit and vegetables
- Store food to maximize freshness, including by freezing food when appropriate if possible
- Share excess with services who can distribute it to the needy
- Compost food scraps
- Ask grocery stores, restaurants and hotels to tackle food loss and champion those who lead the way
- Eat seasonally and locally when possible
