Cities at the heart of global efforts to tackle food loss and waste through innovation, partnerships, and shared learning
On October 15, 2025, the session “FOOD WASTE – Countdown to 2030: Supporting Cities to Reduce Food Loss and Waste as a Catalyst for Systems Transformation” took place at the University of Milan, during the MUFPP Global Forum 2025.
Co-organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and supported by ICLEI, Let’s Food, Global Environmental Facility (GEF), the University of Bologna, I-CAN, CIHEAM and the Municipality of Milan, the session explored practical steps cities can take to halve food loss and waste by 2030 and build more resilient agrifood systems.
The benefits of food waste reduction
As FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torero emphasized in the opening remarks, reducing food loss and waste is “one of the most impactful levers for transforming agrifood systems.” With nearly one-third of global food production lost or wasted each year, he highlighted the benefits of addressing this challenge — from cutting emissions and conserving resources to improving food security and nutrition. To drive real change, he called for solid evidence to guide action, highlighting tools such as FLAPP (the Food Loss App) and stronger coordination among governments, the private sector, academia, and local communities to implement effective solutions.
UNEP’s Clementine O’Connor picked up on this theme, emphasizing the climate impact of food waste. She noted that reducing food waste by half could cut up to 7% of global methane emissions, delivering a “triple win” — tackling hunger, cutting costs, and mitigating climate change.
The role of cities in transforming agrifood systems
The first panel shared real-life examples of cities taking action. City representatives demonstrated how innovation and community involvement are helping to transform food systems.
In Mbale, Uganda, improved market infrastructure and vendor training have reduced food spoilage and improved hygiene through a campaign developed as part of the AfriFOODlinks project, which aims to upgrade market infrastructure and shift mindsets, reported Cassim Namugali, Mayor of Mbale City.
In Paris, France, the city is working to cut food waste in school cafeterias by training staff, offering different portion sizes, and separating organic waste for reuse. “Our goal is to promote sustainable, organic, and tasty food” stated Audrey Pulvar, Paris’s Deputy Mayor, “food waste in France amounts to about €60 billion per year. If we could eliminate it, we would reduce our national greenhouse gas emissions by 3%.”
In Greater Amman Municipality (GAM), Jordan, a pilot project has been launched at the central market to compost food waste for use in urban green spaces. At the same time, the city is strengthening multilevel governance on food loss and waste, aligning local action with national policies through support from FAO and World Food Programme, reported Jalal Ali Abdelkarim Abughanam, Central Market Department Manager, Greater Amman Municipality.
In Bangkok, Thailand, the city developed a pay-as-you-throw system that rewards households and businesses that separate their organic waste. “We’ve tried to make separation simple — not eight or nine categories, just two: wet and dry. Separating wet food waste first makes a huge difference” stated Pornphrom N.S. Vikitsreth, Advisor to the Governor of Bangkok.
In Bogotá, Colombia, the city connects consumers and farmers and supports small farmers in selling surplus crops through the “We Buy Your Harvest” initiative. The programme redirects excess food to people in need while ensuring fair incomes for farmers, said Carolina Chica, Director of Rural Economy and Food Supply at the Secretariat of Economic Development of the City of Bogotá.
Partnerships for action
The second panel with representatives from civil society, the private sector, academia, and national governments underscored that no city acts alone. Collaborations like the one of SNAM Foundation with Milan’s Food Aid Hubs, which produced the Guidelines for the Development of Food Aid Hubs, demonstrate how businesses can play a key role, not only through funding but also by adopting a model of strategic philanthropy.
ICLEI Africa shared how peer-learning networks enable cities to exchange experiences and build collective knowledge, particularly in areas such as food services. Meanwhile, the University of Bologna introduced tools like waste tracking systems to support evidence-based policy-making.
Global financial institutions like the GEF and the World Bank emphasized the importance of both funding and technical support. Collectively, these sectors are working to develop scalable solutions aimed at reducing food waste and fostering sustainable urban food systems.
Citibank highlighted that economic inclusion and scaling successful models are central across all projects, showing how reducing food waste can generate income and influence policy.
In conclusion, the session reinforced that no city can tackle food waste alone. Through collaboration, innovation, and shared knowledge, cities are proving that small, local actions can make a big impact in transforming global food systems for the better.
