$ 400,000 million in food lost between harvesting and distribution

The world loses 400,000 million dollars in food from the post-harvest stage to the distribution, says a report released today by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The number is equal to one 14% loss of food, But does not include waste generated from retail at the consumption phase and who measures another indicator in the development phase. According to the previous calculations, if both concepts are added, it is lost or wasted one-third of the food produced annually around the world (1.3 billion tonnes).

At the presentation of the report, FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu stated that "there are not many policies aimed at curbing food losses", an incomprehensible waste when more than 820 million people continue to starve around the world.

One of the objectives included in the Sustainable Development Goals aims to reduce food and waste losses by half by 2030.

Look also

Both sides have shown good will for the Ecuador to calm down: the government has raised the state's exception and curfew, while thousands of protesters have left the capital.

For
MONICA & nbspVALLEJOS

The report notes that the losses depend a lot on the product or country where they are generated. For example, they are usually higher in fruits and vegetables than in cereals and pulsesespecially when cold storage or processing is inadequate.

The harvest at the wrong time, the extreme and unexpected changes in weather situationInsect infestations and lack of infrastructure to keep products in good condition are other issues that need to be analyzed in detail.

The numbers vary greatly by region: 12% of food is lost in Latin America and the Caribbeanthis percentage exceeds 15% in North America and Europe and exceeds 20% in Central and Southern Asia.

"The essential is identify where losses are before retail and look for the best solutions, still thinks about a cost-benefit analysis and what the producer will get, "said FAO Deputy Director General for Economic and Social Development, Máximo Torero, who said: urged to make markets work better.

According to the study, it is more effective to change diets than to reduce losses and waste when it comes to limiting greenhouse gas emissions.

In this sense, Torero argued that it is advisable to influence the waste part because the product "has already gone through the entire chain, accumulated all its emissions and will have more yield", whereas if the Purpose is to improve the use of natural resources and increase the availability of food must act in the field of losses.