Food, no waste!
European Food Banks: concrete answers for the people, for the planet
On the occasion of the first International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, promoted by the Food and Agriculture Organization, the European Food Banks Federation (FEBA) takes stock of the current situation and future challenges.
Preventing food waste improves the resilience of the food supply chain, helps our planet, and contributes to food security. That is where Food Banks come in.
In Europe 430 Food Banks belonging to the European Food Banks Federation daily recover safe and edible surplus food from the agri-food supply chain and redistribute it to more than 45,000 charities helping over 9.5 million people in need.
The present COVID-19 crisis is challenging European Food Banks. According to a report that FEBA releases today, European Food Banks are experiencing a 30% increase of food demand and food is the most urgent need. The action of Food Banks is crucial: due to the closure of commercial activities or the reorganisation of production, in recent months many businesses of the agri-food supply chain have decided to donate surplus food to Food Banks. Food of no value to the market has acquired a new value helping all the charities that have been working hard in the face of the growing social emergency. Without the Food Banks this food would have become waste.
Once again, these findings highlight the core mission of Food Banks and their key role in recovering, sorting, storing, and redistributing nutritious food to charities.
Thanks to their expertise and experience European Food Banks can give a strong and impactful contribution to the prevention of food losses and waste, scaling-up innovation, technologies and infrastructure which are fundamental to increase the efficiency of the food systems both at European and global level and to achieve SDG Target 12.3.
“This International Day has been our everyday life for 53 years, from the day John van Hengel founded the first Food Bank in 1967. For all Food Banks today is a day of celebration and we want to share it everyone.” says Jacques Vandenschrik, President of the European Food Banks Federation. “Food Banks have shown evidence that they are a beneficial solution to prevent food waste and reduce food insecurity. Food donation is a business friendly, environmentally sensitive, and socially responsible alternative.”
“The International Day of Awareness for Food Waste and Loss provides a phenomenal opportunity to grow understanding of the tremendous benefits to society, economies and the environment when less food goes to waste,” said Nicola Dixon, executive director, General Mills Foundation. “Simple actions and improvements we can each make can add up quickly to a make big difference. We hope that today will inspire individuals to learn more about how they can help their families, communities, farms or organizations make the very best use of their food, and to stop food waste.”
To raise awareness on the importance of food loss and waste and share good practices, today the European Food Banks Federation, together with its membership, is organizing a virtual event “Food, no waste! European Food Banks: concrete answers for the people, for the planet”. 3 international conferences organized by the FAO and with intervention of FEBA President and FEBA Secretary General, 6 online workshops, 14 stands to meet Food Banks, 1 stand dedicated to future Food Bankers, virtual tours of Food Banks, videos, interactive games and quizzes, reports and documents, interaction via chat, and much more.
To learn more about the work of European Food Banks, we invite you to join us for this virtual event on 29september.eurofoodbank.org.
This virtual event is possible thanks to a financial support from the European Union and with the contribution of General Mills Foundation.