Food loss and waste (FLW) is a major challenge affecting food systems transformation, ecological integrity and reduction of food and nutritional insecurity. The World Resources Institute (WRI) estimates that at global level, 1.3 billion tons of food is wasted every year. Environmentally, FLW contributes to the depletion of natural resources, such as water and land, and generates greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating climate change (Lipinski, et al., 2013). For example, FLW account for 45 trillion gallons of lost water per year, representing 24% of the estimated water used for agriculture globally (Kotzé, 2023). FLW poses a significant threat to food security, contributes to growing challenge of climate change and contributes to deepening gender inequality, poor nutrition and poverty, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, where hunger, poverty are persistent and where socio-ecological and socio-economic systems are highly vulnerable to climate change and social inequality (Affognon, et al., 2015). FLW challenges proportionally impact the socio-ecological landscape in Africa more drastically than in many other regions. Across Africa, an estimated 100 million people face catastrophic levels of food insecurity, catastrophic impacts of a growing climate crisis. The WRI presents evidence that 40.2 million people in Central and Southern Africa, 32.9 million in East Africa, and 24.8 million in West and Sahel Africa face food crisis and starvation. However, this food security crisis happens when over 4 billion worth of food in Africa is either lost or wasted annually. The WRI in 2023 documents that the value of the FLW on the continent exceeds the value of the total food aid received in sub-Saharan Africa over the past decade, and equates to the annual value of cereal imports.
Recent studies have presented evidence suggesting that in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), post-harvest food losses alone are worth over US$4 billion per year, representing about 37% of total food produced, and these losses are enough to feed at least 48 million people (Mmereki, et al, 2024). These estimates demonstrate the gravity of the issue of FLW with regards to sustainable development, poverty reduction, ensuring environmental integrity, and promoting climate neutral futures.