This document discusses food losses and waste (FLW) in Latin America and the Caribbean. It notes that 127 million tons of food are lost in the region each year from production to consumption, while 34 million people suffer from hunger. A key challenge is the lack of coordination to implement efficient FLW reduction measures. The document outlines FAO's work to establish a regional strategy and alliance to address FLW in a coordinated way through national committees, research, awareness campaigns, and policy guidelines. The long term goal is to establish FLW reduction scenarios and measurable targets.

1. TOWARDS THE PREVENTION AND REDUCTION OF
FOOD LOSSES AND WASTE IN THE CARIBBEAN AND
LATIN AMERICA
Tania Santivañez
Regional Coordinator Food System Program

2. FAO’S VISION
“A world free from hunger and malnutrition where food
and agriculture contribute to a socially, economically
and environmentally sustainable way to improve the
living stadards of all, espacially of the poorest and
most vulnerable.” (FAO, 2013)
2015 : AGENDA 2030 – Objectives of Sustainable Development
ZERO HUNGER END OF POVERTY

3. FAO STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK
- 2014 - 2017
---------------------- NUTRITION----------------------------------
PILAR 1, LINEA
ACCION 3

4. MODIFY THE AGRO-FOOD-SYSTEM =
HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE
Providing nutritive diets for the
current population and
simultaneously guarantee the
capacity of future generations
to meet its food needs. (FAO,
2013)

5. CONTEXT OF THE TRANSFORMATION OF FOOD SYSTEMS
Fuente: IFPRI, 2016
TRADITIONAL INTEGRAL
Focused on crops yield Focus on the nutrition per unit of
inputs / resources
Emphasis on production / profitable
items
Processing, Storage, Transport
Consumers and the private sector are
not considered
Consumers and the private sector
are key players
Food security implies only food
availability
Access is the biggest problem,
without forgetting the stability and
the use
Global governance dominated by
northern countries
Emerging economies play an
increasingly important role
No attention to gender issues Gender as an key aspect

6. SYSTEM
A UNIT (CONJUNTO) OF TWO OR MORE ELEMENTS WHICH
SATISFIES THREE CONDITIONS:
• EVERY ELEMENT IS AT LEAST RELATED TO ONE OTHER ELEMENT
• AND THIS IS RELATED TO ALL THE OTHER ELEMENTS; DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY
• THERE ARE NO SUB-UNITS OF ELEMENTS WHICH ARE INDEPENDENT
OF OTHER SUB-UNITS
! FINALLY, YOU CANNOT SEPARATE IT INTO INDEPENDENT PARTS.
! THERE ARE PROPERTIES OF ALL, WHICH DO NOT HAVE ANY OF THE PARTS.
(A.del Valle)

7. FOOD SYSTEM
Cada aspecto del sistema alimentario incide en la disponibilidad ,
acceso, estabilidad y utilizacion a alimentos nutritivos, variados y así
en la capacidad de los consumidores para elegir dietas saludables.
Productores
Sector Privado,
Investigadores
Consumidores

8. .
ECONOMIC FACTORS (GDP,
EXCHANGE RATE), SOCIAL
FACTORS GEOPOLITICAL
ISSUES (POVERTY,
UNEMPLOYMENT) AND
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
(CLIMATE CHANGE)
FOOD SYSTEMS
FS
ES
TRANSPORT

9. HOW IS THE GLOBAL AGRO-FOOD SYSTEM?
ARE WE FEEDING… OR ARE WE FED?
NOS ESTAMOS ALIMENTANDO O ESTAMOS SIENDO
ALIMENTADOS?

10. The way in which FOOD is produced, distributed, marketed and
consumed has changed:
Degraded natural resources..land concentrations,
markets
Recursos naturales degradados.. concentración de tierras, comercio
global grandes distancias…globalizacion de las dietas

11. AGRO-FOOD SYSTEMS ARE CHARACTERIZED BY MORE VERTICALLY INTEGRATED SUPPLY CHAINS
AND REQUIRE A INCREASING AMOUNT OF CAPITAL AND SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE.
Greater exclusion of small producers, women and young
people.

12. UNEMPLOYMENT
+80mn
+70mn
LOW TRANSPARENCY OF
MARKETS AND PRICES
VOLATILITY
DECREASE OF REMITTANCES

13. EXCLUSION OF CONSUMERS
CONSUMPTION HABITS
AND COMMERCIAL
POLICY (1994-2008)
NAFTA increased exports
of processed and
packaged products from
the US to Mexico,
increasing the incidence
of obesity.
Clarks et al. (2012)
Food Deserts / Territories
with limited access to fresh
and nutritional foods

14. Consumer expectations in relation to food safety, nutrition and health; have
made it necessary to pay more attention to norms.
THERE ARE MARKET OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRODUCERS.
Consumers have opportunities for consumption, with
limited information.

15. .
ALCANZAR LA SEGURIDAD ALIMENTARIA PARA TODOS Y
ASEGURAR QUE LAS PERSONAS TENGAN ACCESO A
ALIMENTOS DE BUENA CALIDAD QUE LES PERMITAN LLEVAR
UNA VIDA ACTIVA Y SALUDABLE ES LA ESENCIA DE LAS
ACTIVIDADES DE LA FAO.
HOW THIS BE REFLECTED IN THE
REGION?

16. CHALLENGES FOR THE FOOD-SYSTEM
Concentration
of land
Degraded natural
resources
Concentration
within comercial
channels
- In ALC, less than 1% are farms over
1000 hectares (<1%), which
represent 48% of the total
agricultural area.
Source: Lowder, S. K., Skoet, J., Raney, T.
(2016): The Number, Size, and Distribution
of Farms, Smallholder Farms, and Family
Farms Worldwide, en World Development,
Volume 87, Paginas 16-29
- About 50% of soils are deficient in
nutrients and degragation affects up
to half of the territory of some
countries.
Source: FAO (2015)
- Argentina (3 most biggest) > 80%
- Brasil (4 most biggest) >60%
- Chile (4 most biggest) >90%
- Honduras (3 most biggest) >95%
- México (3 most biggest) >90%
- Perú (3 most biggest) >95%
Source: OECD (2015), Market Structure

17. CHALLENGES FOR THE FOOD-SYSTEM
Access: Inequality and Exclusion
Small
Producers /
Family
Farming
Indigenous
villages, Young
people and
women
Pragnant and
lactating women

18. Inequality and Exclusión
45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54
México
Bolivia
Guatemala
Honduras
Panamá
Brasil
Paraguay
Colombia
Índice GINI
País
Índice GINI paises más desiguales ALC
Fuente: FAO (2015)

19. CHALLENGES FOR THE FOOD-SYSTEM
UTILIZATION
54% of the world
population live in
urban areas, in
LAC that
proportion
corresponds to
80% (World Bank)
Changing eating habits
and increasing food-
related illnesses
127 million tons of food
are lost in LAC/year,
from production to
consumption, while 34
million people suffer
from hunger

20. LAC IS EXCESSIVE IN FOOD AS A REGION
2005-2013 (US $ MILLION)
20Source: FAO, 2015
14
17
19
27
33
32
35
36
38
40
40
42
49
53
53
57
58
60
60
62
62
63
65
65
67
67
68
70
70
71
71
91
96
- 20 40 60 80 100 120
Bahamas
San Cristóbal y Nieves
Barbados
Trinidad y Tobago
Guyana
Domínica
CostaRica
Panamá
Belice
Haití
Honduras
Nicaragua
ElSalvador
Colombia
Argentina
Uruguay
Bolivia
33 countries in the region are food
importers; 18 are net importers.
Only 40-50% of imports come from LAC

21. Recognizing the realities of the countries in
the region:
 Small and big countries
 Countries with different levels of development
 Exporting and importing countries
 Agroindustrial schemes / family farming
 High concentration of wealth / marginalized communities
 Different governance systems
HOW TO FACE THE CHALLENGES?

22. HOW TO FACE THE CHALLENGES?
INCLUSIVE
Development with Inclusion (Ali and Zhuang, 2007): ´´Growth with equal
opportunities ... Growth is inclusive when all members of a society are
allowed to contribute and participate in the growth process on an equal
footing, regardless of their individual circumstances“
Associativism, strategies that facilitate the access of the PA to markets
(public purchases, short and long circuits
Accessible and transparent arrangements and mechanisms to facilitate
fair trade
EFFICIENT
– biological, economical, environmental
– Apply phyto-sanitary standards, food safety
– Good practices of comercialization
– Equilibrium between supply and demand (fair prices)
– Smaller quantity of FLW
– Promote good consumption habits
Recognizing that a comprehensive approach to food systems is necessary from NRNN management
to waste and residues
Facilitate access to food
ACCESS AND EQUITABLE BENEFITS

23. HOW TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES?
TransformingFoodSystems
POLICIES – INVESTMENT – SAFETY AND QUALITY
Recognizing the need for a comprehensive approach to food systems
SUSTAINABLE
HEALTHY
INCLUSIVE
EFFICIENT

24. .
ALCANZAR LA SEGURIDAD ALIMENTARIA PARA TODOS Y
ASEGURAR QUE LAS PERSONAS TENGAN ACCESO A
ALIMENTOS DE BUENA CALIDAD QUE LES PERMITAN LLEVAR
UNA VIDA ACTIVA Y SALUDABLE ES LA ESENCIA DE LAS
ACTIVIDADES DE LA FAO.
HOW ARE WE ADVANCING / IMPULSING IN TERMS
OF EFFICIENCY IN THE AGRO-FOOD SYSTEM IN THE
REGION?

25. .
ALCANZAR LA SEGURIDAD ALIMENTARIA PARA TODOS Y
ASEGURAR QUE LAS PERSONAS TENGAN ACCESO A
ALIMENTOS DE BUENA CALIDAD QUE LES PERMITAN LLEVAR
UNA VIDA ACTIVA Y SALUDABLE ES LA ESENCIA DE LAS
ACTIVIDADES DE LA FAO.

26. WHAT ARE FLW?
It is the reduction of the mass of food for human consumption at any
point in the production chain.
LOSSES mainly occur during production, postharvest,
storage and transportation.
WASTE occurs during distribution and consumption,
in direct relation to the behavior of wholesalers and
retailers amd consumers who decide to discard foods
that still have value.

27. CRITICAL POINTS

29. WHAT IMPACTS DO FLW HAVE?
They reduce the local
availability of food
They lead to income losses for
the producers
They increase prices for
consumers
They cause an important waste
of resources and energy
They contribute to the emission
of greenhouse-gases

30. 2012
Rio+20
CAMPAÑA DE SENSIBILIZACIÓN
UN ÁREA ESTRATÉGICA PARA LA SEGURIDAD ALIMENTARIA

31. A STRATEGIC AREA FOR FOOD SECURITY
TECHNICAL PLATFORM FOR THE MEASUREMENT AND REDUCTION OF FOOD LOSSES AND
WASTE
COORDINATION - COLABORATION
• Promote actions referring to FLW by considering national approaches
• Share information about parameters of FLW
• Support the “Community of Practice” discussion forum about food loss reduction
• Present solutions for FLW
• Discuss trends and work-plans within different initiatives about FLW reduction of the
private sector, international organizations and development partners
•
http://www.fao.org/platform-food-loss-waste/news-events/es/

32. THE INITIATIVE SAFE-FOOD
• SAVE FOOD as a public-private alliance and civil
society.
• Dialogue strengthening with farmers, industry,
decision makers and civil society.
• A growing number of network partners (over
450).
• National initiatives for the reduction of FLW.
• Support of national projects: North Africa, West
Africa, Near East, CARICOM
Collaboration and Coordination

33. A STRATEGIC AREA FOR FOOD SECURITY
2015

35. ADVANCE AND CHALLENGUES ON FLW
IN LAC

36. 2014 2016 - 2017
“Regional Agenda vitalices regional and
national processes”
“Positioning, Strategy, Sensitization”
2014 2015
Regional Alliance
National
Committees
PROMOTION OF REGIONAL AND NATIONAL
INSTITUTIONALITY
Network
of
Experts
Regional Strategy

37. PROVIDING THE NECESSARY INSTITUTIONALITY
Program, presentations and conclusions:
http://www.fao.org/americas/eventos/ver/
es/c/253255/
Regional Network of FLW experts for LAC
Researchers,

38. WHY A REGIONAL STRATEGY?
• ALL THE COUNTRIES PRODUCE FLW.
• LACK OF COORDINATION TO IMPLEMENT EFFICIENT
MEASURES.
• LACK OF A REGIONAL INFORMATION SYSTEM.
• FLW CONTINUE TO BE GENERATED DAY BY DAY.
• THERE ARE SUCCESSFUL EXPERIENCES AND LESSONS
LEARNED THAT ARE CONSTITUTED AS A REFERENCE TO
FACE THIS PROBLEM.

39. RESEARCH,
TECNOLOGY AND
INNOVATION
COMUNICATION AND
SENSITIZATION
GOVERNANCE
EVIDENCIA/
CUANTIFICACION
TECNOLOGÍA
INNOVACIÓN
SENSIBILIZACIÓN
ALIANZAS PÚBLICAS Y PRIVADAS
DIALOGO ACTORES
IMPULSAR POLITICAS PUBLICAS
REDES
 ESTUDIOS EN PDA EN CADENAS SELECCIONADAS CON
ÉNFASIS EN ALIMENTOS DE LA CANASTA BÁSICA (FRUTAS,
VEGETALES, PESCADO, PAN, QUINUA).
 CAMPAÑA ”PIENSA, COME Y REDUCE”
EN LAC
 MATERIAL DE DISEMINACIÓN: VIDEOS,
EVENTOS PROMOCIONALES
 DIVULGATIVO Y CONTENIDOS DE
CAPACITACIÓN: BOLETINES
 I DIALOGO REGIONAL 2015
 CÓDIGO DE CONDUCTA
 II DIALOGO REGIONAL 2016
REGIONAL STRATEGY FOR FLW PREVENTION AND REDUCTION

41. REGIONAL ALLIANCE OF FOOD LOSSES
AND WASTE:
PLATFORM FOR POLITICAL ARTICULATION AND
INNOVATION
Establishment of common goals for the reduction of FLW
The alliance is being built through NATIONAL COMMITTEES, which integrate
different public and private actors and the civil society.
Some reference working groups are Argentina, Costa Rica, Chile, Colombia
and the Dominican Republic, CARICOM, Uruguay, Mexico.

47. ACTORS OF NATIONAL COMMITTESS
Members: Actors of the Food System as:
• Ministries and other State Institutions
• Academy
• Food Industry
• Producer Associations
• Consumer Associations
• Civil Society Organizations
• FAO Representation
• National Expert – Member of the Regional Network of
FLW experts

48. Role of the National Committees … What is a Committee?
• It is an Advisory body, cooperation, synergy ( instancia consultiva)
• Recommends / generates policy guidelines for the prevention and
reduction of PDA (State)
• Establishes cooperation agreements and public-private partnerships for
the development of innovation, technology and awareness-raising
• Facilitates the exchange of experiences and lessons learned from cases
of national FLW prevention
Tool: National action plan of FLW reduction / Regional Strategy

49. TENDENCIES
• LEGAL INITIATIVES/REGULATIONS IN PROGRESS/ INSTITUTIONALITY
• STANDARDIZATION OF QUANTIFICATION METHODS/RESEARCH
• REDUCTION / EXPLOITATION (APROVECHAMIENTO)
• Currently, the trend in the
region in terms of legal and
regulatory initiatives points to
the reduction, rather than to
the prevention of FLWs.
• International anti-waste
legislation promoted mainly by
France has generated several
replies in LAC countries.
• The countries with law projects
in advance are: Argentina,
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa
Rica and Uruguay
20

50. DEVELOPMENT STUDIES BY EXPERTS OF THE FLW NETWORK
• MEXICO: Group of Food Losses and Waste – Crusade against Hunger.
Evaluation of waste of basic food basket products.
• TRINIDAD Y TOBAGO: Universidad de West Indies. Post-harvest losses of
cassava, mango and others.
• BRAZIL: EMBRAPA, normative, research
• CHILE: Universidad Santiago de Chile – USACH. Quantification of FLW of
basic food basket products: lettuce, rice, bread, potato.
• COSTA RICA: Tecnológico de Costa Rica. Evaluation of losses in Costa Rican
agribusiness.
– COLOMBIA: Departamento Nacional de Planeación: 10 million de tn. FLW / year
• ARGENTINA, COLOMBIA, CHILE: Bancos de Alimentos. Quantification of
food recovered from retail.

51. ¿HACIA DONDE SE QUIERE LLEGAR?ESTABLISHMENT OF REDUCTION SCENARIOS

52. 2014 2014 2015 2016
REFERENCES SPA/EN

53. Thank you!
CONTACT:
RLC-PDA@fao.org