The value in Africa’s mounting food waste

From the newsletter

As the world marked the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste on September 29, attention is turning to the economic and environmental costs of discarded food, with a recent Nigerian study linking it to flooding and public health risks. For Africa, the question is whether the continent can capture more value from its growing food waste.

• More than 1 billion meals are left uneaten every day globally, according to UNEP, while studies in cities and communities across Africa record household food waste of more than 100kg per person a year. 

• Food waste is a major component of Africa’s largely organic urban waste stream, creating a significant circular-economy opportunity if more of it can be diverted into productive uses.

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