Davos 2016 - Press Conference: Launching Yield Wise - A food...

TL;DR

The Rockefeller Foundation launches Yield Wise, a $130 million initiative to reduce global food waste and loss by half, which could feed 1.2 billion hungry people for two months.

Transcript

good afternoon everybody and thank you for joining us here in the room and uh on the live stream and uh especially here on the panel you see we have a we have a full panel today because we will be talking about a very important subject in the context of the annual meeting of the world economic Forum here in Davos the question that we're trying to a... Read More

Key Insights

• 😋 Food loss and waste contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and intensify the effects of climate change.
• 😋 Addressing food waste throughout the supply chain is crucial for achieving sustainable agriculture and reducing poverty.
• 😋 Investing in infrastructure and technology, promoting regional trade, and establishing commodity exchanges can help reduce food loss and waste.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the objective of the Yield Wise initiative?

Yield Wise aims to slash global food loss and waste by one half, which could feed 1.2 billion hungry people for two months.

Q: What are the main causes of food loss and waste?

Food loss occurs in developing nations due to insufficient and inefficient harvesting, storage, and processing, while food waste happens in developed countries, mainly at the retail and consumer level.

Q: How can the private sector contribute to reducing food waste and loss?

Private sector players can support initiatives like Yield Wise by funding technological advancements, establishing sustainable supply chains, and investing in infrastructure to improve storage and transportation.

Q: What role does the public sector play in reducing food waste and loss?

Governments have pledged to cut food loss and waste in half by 2030 through reforms in export and other policies that promote economic growth. They can also support education and awareness campaigns.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Food loss and waste cost the global economy more than the combined 2015 profits of the Fortune 500 companies.

• Yield Wise aims to work with public, private, and nonprofit participants to address both post-consumer waste in developed nations and post-harvest loss in the developing world.

• The initiative will start in sub-Saharan Africa and focus on providing access to new technologies and financing for smallholder farmers.