Extra efforts needed to save more food

In China, more food is lost in the processing and storage stages than at the retail or consumption level. China can tackle the challenge of food loss and waste by investing in food-preservation technologies and infrastructure, changing policies and promoting greater consumer knowledge about food wastage. Moreover, increased investment in production technology, infrastructure and post-harvest handling should reduce post-harvest losses.

China loses 27.5 million tons of food a year because of poor storage and transportation. Major grain producing regions lack sufficient storage infrastructure, which not only exacerbates food losses, but limits farmers' incomes. The use of cold storage facilities in India and Bangladesh, for example, has increased potato prices for farmers during the off-season and reduced food losses.

Policies to promote the right prices of foods and natural resources that reflect the true cost to the environment and climate are an important step toward encouraging sustainable production and consumption practices. For a more efficient food system in China, subsidies that promote overuse of natural resources and increase carbon emissions should be phased out. Savings from the elimination of such subsidies should be re-prioritized toward high-return investments - production of more nutrient crops such as fruits and vegetables and enhancement of the whole supply chain to minimize losses and wastes.

The removal of such subsidies, however, may cause food prices to increase with negative implications for poor producers and consumers. In such situations, strong social safety nets must be put in place to protect the poor.

As for food waste, it is important to continue to educate consumers on good consumption habits through campaigns such as "Clean Your Plate". Changing behaviors and culture regarding food waste at the dining table, particularly in restaurants, is important. But more importantly, consumers should be made aware of the best practices in safe food storage, package dating, and household as well as societal benefits of reducing food waste. And retailers should be discouraged from wasting food by following unnecessary standards for the color, shape and size of fruits and vegetables.

The author is director general of the International Food Policy Research Institute.