Conference to look at next steps for UK food waste policy
The European Union wastes about 22 million tonnes of food a year and Britain wastes the most, according to a study by European Commission-backed researchers.
The findings throw into sharp relief the issues to be discussed at a conference in London on September 10th titled ‘Next Steps for UK Food Waste Policy - Waste Reduction, Innovation and Anaerobic Digestion’.
To be held at Glazier’s Hall and organized by Westminster Food and Nutrition Forum, it will feature Nicola Hopley, food waste team leader at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Mark Little, Tesco’s head of food waste reduction, and Dr Richard Swannell, director of sustainable food systems at WRAP.
The latest study, published today (August 12th) in the journal Environmental Research Letters, looked at data from six countries to analyse the water and nitrogen resources lost in the EU through consumer food waste.
It found nearly 80% of all food waste was ‘avoidable’ and the UK was the worst offender, wasting the equivalent of a tin of beans per person every day.
Using data from Britain, The Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Germany and Romania, the study found vegetables, fruit and cereals accounted for the bulk of the avoidable food waste.
This September 10th conference aims to bring together policymakers and key stakeholders to discuss the future of UK food waste policy and the role that producers, retailers, households and government can play in reducing waste across the food chain.
Delegates will discuss the future of voluntary agreements for the sector in light of the announcement of Courtauld 2025 which seeks to further develop collaborative frameworks on waste, recommendations in the Environment Audit committee's 4th report for ending the 'throwaway society', and the role of government in food waste reduction affecting key areas of production.
They will also consider latest thinking on innovation - including advances in packaging - to reduce food waste going to landfill, and latest developments regarding anaerobic digestion.
Alongside Hopley, Little and Swannell, other speakers will include Mark Varney, director of food at Fareshare and David Bellamy, environment policy manager with the Food and Drink Federation.
For more information visit: www.westminsterfoodandnutritionforum.co.uk