International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste observed with a focus on forests

29 September 2026

The International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste was observed on 29 September 2026, led by the UN Environment Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organization.
The 2026 theme links food loss and waste to forest protection and sustainable agrifood systems.
More than one billion meals are left uneaten every day worldwide.
Food loss and waste accounts for 8-10 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, largely as methane released in landfills.
More than $1 trillion is lost globally every year through food loss and waste, while 2.6 billion people cannot afford a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
UNEP says every dollar invested in prevention saves cities $8 and households $84.
A cooperative of 179 farmers near Nairobi was losing up to 40 per cent of its crops after harvest until cold-storage equipment was provided.