In this Article
A recent study by Jane Lukhachi Ambuko et al. underscores the importance of prioritizing food loss and waste data gaps at a national level. Countries should identify key commodities based on nutrition, economic, and environmental importance, and set realistic FLW reduction targets, ideally aligned with SDG 12.3.
Image Source: UNEP
Horticultural food crops, such as fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices, play a vital role in healthy diets, providing essential nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Although global production of fruits and vegetables increased, their availability remains insufficient to meet the recommended daily intake of 400 grams. The reported global per capita daily availability is 390 grams (Ambuko et al., 2025).
Food loss and waste (FLW) in fruit and vegetable value chains poses a major threat to food and nutrition security, environmental sustainability, and economic stability. Efforts to reduce losses, however, are hindered by limited and uneven data across regions, commodities, and supply chain stages. As a result, many countries rely on modeled estimates that lack contextual accuracy, constraining progress toward global targets such as SDG 12.3.
To close these gaps, countries must prioritize FLW measurement, identify high-impact commodities, and set realistic reduction targets. Strengthening data collection requires harmonized methodologies, research collaboration, and greater awareness among the value chain actors. Strategic actions, including case studies, supply chain surveys, capacity building, and cross-sector partnerships, will enable more reliable, representative data and more effective policy interventions.
Reference:
Ambuko JL, Masakhwe SM, Amwoka E, Mujuka E and Fabi C (2025). Food loss and waste data gaps in fruit and vegetable value chains: a review of the literature. Front. Hortic. 4:1529040. doi: 10.3389/fhort.2025.1529040 https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/horticulture/articles/10.3389/fhort.2025.1529040/full
