Reduce food waste
Strengthening the esteem for our food has been one of the tasks of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) for many years and is a great concern of our Federal Minister Julia Klöckner. In February, the Cabinet adopted the strategy to reduce food waste by the Federal Minister. By the year 2030 we want to reduce food waste by half.
For your coverage, you are welcome to use the following speaker quote:
"Our strategy to reduce food waste puts all those involved in the value chain in charge, and we face a whole-of-society task that can not be resolved at one point in the chain." Together with all sectors, we will, for the first time, agree on concrete targets that will be verifiably complied with From farmers, processors, wholesalers and retailers to catering and households, we are developing measures to reduce food waste for all sectors.
Agriculture, for example, can produce more needs-oriented, and food manufacturers are required to optimize processes so that less food waste is produced. Targeted knowledge transfer generates greater awareness and awareness among end users, while in restaurants there is the option of adjusting portion sizes. In addition, we have removed legal hurdles to take away food. Digital solutions will help too. For example, via the App it will be possible for retailers in the future to hand over leftover food even more purposefully to the boards. Our ministry promotes this project with 1,5 millions of euros.
This cross-sectoral approach is a crucial step. By the year 2030, we want to halve food waste. It is also an explicit part of our strategy to check whether the existing legal framework (eg circular economy law, hygiene regulations) is sufficient.
However, studies also make it clear that more than half of the food is thrown away in private households. How much somebody buys or consumes in a restaurant is an individual decision, and that's why we need more information and awareness.
The share of food waste in commerce is much lower in Germany than in other sectors (about 500.000 tonnes, four percent of the total amount of food waste). For many years now, it has been common practice for many supermarkets to hand over unsold and still edible food on a voluntary basis to the boards or other social institutions. By comparison, the boards in Germany save over 260.000 tons of food from around 30.000 food markets every year. In France, the number of salvaged food - despite the law - at only 46.200 tons! This is still among the rescued foods in Germany alone through the panels. In addition, many supermarkets and small shops of food retailers in Germany are already working together with new social movements such as food sharing. There are also supermarkets selling rescued food from other stores and retailers that no longer offer for sale but edible products for free delivery. "
