Sustainable Development Goals

Question 1

What is the sustainable development goals?

Answer 1

A global initiative to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.
* Agenda adopted by UN countries in 2015

Question 2

What UN Sustainable Development Goals are applicable to food policy?

Answer 2

• SDG 1: No poverty
• SDG 2: No hunger
• SDG 12: responsible consumption

Question 3

How many SDGs are there?

Answer 3

17 interlinked goals that recognize the multi-factorial problems related to poverty and develops strategies for economic growth and addresing a range of social needs by putting sustainability at the center.

Question 4

What are the dimensions of sustainability for the SDGs?

Answer 4

• environmental sustainability: ecological integrity by ensuring sustainable use of resources.
• social sustainability: All people are healthy and secure with access the basic necessities and experience universal human right free from discrimination.
• Economic sustainability: Communities can maintain independence and have access to necessary resources

Question 5

What dimension of the SDGs is the most important?

Answer 5

ENvironmental sustainability - it anchors the rest and protection of the others is not possible without it
* bad soil -> cant grow food -> people malnourished -> people cant work -> economy suffers

Question 6

SDG 12

Answer 6

sustainable development goal 12: Responsible consumption and production
* Doing more and better with less
* economic growth without environmental degradation and harming human health
* increasing less wastefulness (resource efficiency)
* promoting sustainable lifestyles

Question 7

SDG target 12.3.1

Answer 7

global food loss and waste - halve global food waste at level of consumer and retailers and reduce food losses during food production. Has two indicators
1. Indicator 12.3.1.a: Food Loss Index which focuses on losses from production to (but not including) the retail level
2. Indication 12.3.1.b: Food Waste Index encompasses the retail and consumption level

Question 8

What is “food loss”?

Answer 8

Food waste that occurs along the food supply chain from harvest/slaughter/catch up typically as an unintended result of the processes
* Crops that dont get harvested because of labour shortage
* Food harvested but not transported quickly enough to stores and spoils
* Crops lost to pests or contaminated
* By-catch; economically not worth it

Question 9

How much food loss occurs?

Answer 9

globally around 14% of food produced is lost between harvest and retail

Question 10

What is “food waste”?

Answer 10

food that could be eaten but is intentially thrown out at the retail or consumer level

Question 11

How much food waste occurs?

Answer 11

~17% total global food production is wasted
* 11% households
* 5% food service
* 2% retail

Question 12

Results of the food waste research in 2022 from National Zero Waste Council

Answer 12

• 63% household waste could have been eaten
• average household waste is 140 kg of food per year (more than $1300 per year)
• most prominent wasted food is vegetables

Question 13

What is a common cause of food waste?

Answer 13

best before labels
* quality not safety; they are still likely fine to consume

Question 14

relationship bettween food loss/ waste and food insecurity

Answer 14

food loss and waste negatively impacts food insecurity
* food availability may decrease
* increase cost of food
* increased production costs
* environmentally unsustainable

Question 15

Why should we care about food loss and waste?

Answer 15

The environment & food security

Question 16

How might reduced food loss and waste be beneficial to the environment?

Answer 16

reduced use of land and water and natural resources
* 40% of global land is for agriculture
* food production results in 30% of greenhouse gases
* food production uses 70% of freshwater
* loss of ecosystems threatens species
* 60% of world fish stocks are fully fished and mroe than 30% overfished

Question 17

problem of food waste and loss on the environment?

Answer 17

• resources used to make the food were then a waste
• Can overuse natural resources unecassarily
• contributes to excess greenhouse gases

Question 18

How might reducing food loss and waste and result in food security?

Answer 18

• Reducing on farm-losses (particularly small farms) in low-income countries may help local areas by making food more available
• Reducing consumer food waste in high income countries may impact food distribution to positively imapct vulnerable people

Question 19

What other SDG is is 12.3.1 linked to?

Answer 19

SDG 2 Zero hunger goal
* end to hunger
* achievement of food security
* improved nutrition
* promotion of sustainable agriculture