End Food Waste Australia, in collaboration with the Australian Bananas Growers’ Council, Melons Australia, and the wider horticulture industry, has launched a comprehensive nationwide strategy aimed at salvaging fresh produce and slashing Australia’s food waste by 2030.
The newly devised action plans target horticulture food waste, outlining nine priority strategies to curtail wastage from farm to retail, as revealed in a media release.
Dr Steven Lapidge, CEO of End Food Waste Australia, emphasised the significance of these initiatives in achieving Australia’s ambitious food waste reduction goals.
Dr Lapidge underscored the potential economic and environmental benefits of tackling fresh produce waste, asserting that it could unlock billions of dollars while mitigating the environmental toll of the food system and aiding millions of food-insecure Australians annually.
“Tackling fresh produce waste would provide billions of dollars of economic benefits, reduce the growing environmental impact of our food system, and will directly help feed millions more food insecure Australians every year,” he noted.
The action plan focuses on reducing waste at every stage of the supply chain, incorporating measures such as enhancing data collection, exploring innovative purchasing arrangements, and optimising logistics for redistributing surplus produce to charities.
Distinguished by produce type, bananas and melons have spearheaded dedicated Food Waste Action Plans, demonstrating collaborative efforts within the horticulture industry.
Leon Collins, chairman of the Australian Banana Growers’ Council, expressed pride in the banana industry’s proactive stance in addressing food waste, citing the multifaceted benefits of waste reduction.
Similarly, Johnathon Davey, executive officer of Melons Australia, affirmed the melon industry’s commitment to the cause, underscoring the strategic opportunities presented by the action plan.
The released plans – Horticulture Sector Action Plan, Banana Food Waste Action Plan, and Melon Food Waste Action Plan – are available for reference on the End Food Waste Australia website, with an open invitation extended to stakeholders across the horticulture supply chain to participate in the collective effort.
Dr Lapidge urged businesses to enact or support the outlined priority actions and encouraged other produce groups to endorse the Food Waste Action Plan.
“We invite everyone across the horticulture supply chain to get involved in saving Australia’s world-class fruits and vegetables,” he said.
Supported by the Australian Government and various research institutions, the evidence-based Horticulture Sector Action Plan is poised to drive substantial progress in waste reduction through targeted interventions across the supply chain.
