FAO e-conference: Utilization of food loss and waste as well as non-food parts as livestock feed
By Harinder P.S. Makkar, FAO, Rome
An FAO electronic conference on "Utilization of Food Loss and Waste as well as Non-Food Parts as Livestock Feed" will be held from 1 to 30 October 2015.
This e-conference will be hosted by the Livestock Production Systems Branch of Animal Production and Health Division of the FAO and will be a contribution to the “Save Food” initiative.
The participation to the conference is free and requires prior subscription by posting an e-mail to listserv@listserv.fao.org leaving the subject blank and entering the following text: subscribe FAO-FoodLoss2AnimalFeed-L. Registered participants will receive "Background document" by 15th of september.
Rationale
Approximately 1.3-1.6 Gtonnes of food is lost or wasted globally every year, which is estimated to have enormous environmental (ca 3.3 Gtonnes of CO2 eq. greenhouse gas emission/year, 305 cubic km water/year, 1.5 billion ha land to grow food that is wasted), social (936 billion US$) and economic (1055 billion US$) costs. Also the food loss and waste has an impact on food security, natural resource availability, and local and national economies. FAO through the “Save Food” initiative is working with partners to develop, plan and implement initiatives for efficient use of resources and harmonization of methodologies, strategies and approaches. Globally many plant resources are being used either as food or as animal feed. This dual purpose use raises questions how to consider a change of utilization of plant resources from food to animal feed within the context of food losses and waste. Similarly if food gets lost or wasted a part of these losses can be converted to animal feed.
FAO is in the process of developing a framework and an action plan on ‘Food Loss and Waste plus Non-Food Part to Livestock Feed’ with the objective to develop criteria for setting the boundaries between dual purpose use and food loss, and to enhance animal feed availability without compromising animal health and welfare and animal product safety and quality, and meeting legislative requirements.
Aims
The aim of the e-conference is to seek guidance on: a) the aims, scope and boundaries of the framework; b) implementation of the framework, and c) role of different stakeholders, from academia, feed and food industries, civil societies, policy makers, extension workers to farmers in the implementation.
How to join
The e-conference is open to all persons interested in the topic, is free (there is no registration fee) and will be moderated.
To join the e-mail conference, send an e-mail to listserv@listserv.fao.org leaving the subject blank and entering the following text: subscribe FAO-FoodLoss2AnimalFeed-L
After sending the email, participants will get an email containing a link. It is necessary to click on the link to complete the subscription
Next steps
On 15th September 2015 a ‘Background Document’ containing a draft framework and an action plan on ‘Food Loss and Waste plus Non-Food Part to Livestock Feed’ will be posted. It will set the scene for this e-conference. It will also provide information on how the conference will be run and how participants can send their contribution.
It may please be noted that the Background Document and contributions from participants will be available only to those who have joined the e-conference by subscribing to the FAO-FoodLoss2AnimalFeed-L list by following the procedure given above. Also participants will be able to contribute to the e-conference only if they have joined the e-conference.