COP27: From waste to deforestation – how food is (finally) taking centre stage

The 27th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference – better known as COP27 – is today drawing to a close. The past two weeks have bought world leaders, businesses and climate activists together and, for the first time ever, the food industry is at the heart of discussions.

The summit, held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, included the first ever Food Systems Pavilion, which put food centre stage during the crucial negotiations. It focused specifically on ‘actions, strategies and solutions’ across the entire food value chain, highlighting the critical role that food systems play in finding climate solutions and reaching net zero.

Food production is currently linked to more than a third of man-made greenhouse gasses (GHG) – which cause global warming – so it is vital that changes are made.

In 2015, 194 countries signed the Paris Agreement which pledged to limit the rise in global temperatures to 1.5°C. This is just 0.3°C below the point at half of the world’s population would be exposed to life-threatening heat, humidity and other extreme weather conditions.

However, seven years on, the latest report from the UN shows that we are currently not on track to meet this goal, meaning that governments need to make deeper cuts – and food system transformation is key.

So what are the issues caused by the current system, what can be done to rectify this and how can suppliers, manufacturers, retailers and consumers play a part in the change?


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Food waste, deforestation and the supply chain

Despite the fact that growing, processing and transporting food accounts for a third of all global GHG emissions, just 3% of public climate finance currently goes towards improving food systems, according to recent analysis by the Global Alliance for the Future of Food. So what are the main areas of concern?

On top of this, almost a third of the food that is produced worldwide is wasted – making it one of the key topics of discussion at the Food Systems Pavilion during COP27.

Currently, 14% of food is lost in the food supply chain, while 17% of food is wasted at retail and consumer levels. This costs the global economy over £841 million each year and is responsible for more than four times the GHG emissions of all annual aviation combined.

As climate NGO WRAP’s interim CEO Richard Swannell says: “We cannot achieve net zero emission without tackling food loss and waste.”

Soy deforestation is another significant contributor to climate change, with 250 million tonnes of GHGs emitted each year, from Brazil’s Cerrado alone.

Current soy cultivation levels have increased by 15 times since the 1950s, with 27,000 hectares of rainforest lost since August 2020, deforested by soy traders including Cargill, Bunge, COFCO, LDC and ALZ Graos.

Soy is also used in the production of meat and dairy – two of the major players within the food system. UN specialist Raphaël Podselver admits they have a long tradition in our food cultures, but says “their production is wreaking havoc on the planet.”

Speaking on behalf of Four Paws, ENOUGH, A Well-Fed World, World Animal Protection and ProVeg International, he adds that 32% of man-made methane emissions can be attributed to livestock farming.

“Without shifting away from the consumption of industrialised meat and dairy, especially in the global north, we stand little chance of meeting the international climate goals that will prevent us from spiralling towards ecosystem collapse.”

How can the food industry be transformed?

The Food Systems Pavilion at COP27 has been focusing on developing actions, strategies and solutions across the whole of the food chain in a bid to make the current food system healthier, more resilient and more equitable.

WRAP says that meeting these key markers of reducing food loss and waste will reduce GHG emissions by 2.1 billion tonnes of CO2e per year – which in turn could generate £3.7 trillion annually in new economic opportunities by 2030.

A spokesperson for WRAP told Grocery Gazette: “The focus at COP27 has been a welcome step forward, but we do also need to see that momentum translate into concrete commitments for change from all actors.

“This is the opportunity and the challenge in the coming months. Our ambition is that as a starting point by COP28 many countries will have included SDG12.3 in their commitments.”

In line with COP27 goals, Sustainable Development Guide 12.3 – or SGD12.3 – aims to halve global food waste at a retail and consumer level and reduce food losses along supply chains by 2030.

Coordinated by the UN Environment Programme and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, climate coalitions and environmental organisations have been signing up to the new ‘123 Pledge’ which aims to accelerate action to reduce food waste and loss worldwide.

The United Kingdom is the first country to get more than halfway toward meeting this target, while key grocery businesses such as Tesco and Arla Foods have achieved reductions of more than 25% – showing that achieving the target is possible and may even be profitable.

Elsewhere, the Tropical Forest Alliance – in partnership with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development – published a new soy deforestation roadmap which looks to put an end to deforestation in soy supply chains by 2025.

Despite some campaigners voicing their disappointment with the roadmap. COFCO International CEO, Wei Dong told Reuters that it “represents a significant sector milestone in eliminating commodity-driven deforestation in line with a 1.5°C pathway”.

The role of manufacturers, retailers and consumers

Supermarket giants Tesco and Sainsbury’s – as well as consumer goods company Unilever – are three of 20 of the world’s largest retailers and manufacturers committed to the Consumer Goods Forum’s Food Waste Coalition, which sees members reporting on their food surplus and waste data.

Unilever has also joined the ‘123 Pledge’ to continue focusing on halving food waste in its direct operations by 2025.

Big 4 grocers Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda, as well as convenience retailer Co-op are also members of the Retail Soy Group which focuses on a sector-wide gap in addressing demand for sustainabily produced soya.

Over the last few weeks alone, it’s become clear that retailers are looking to knuckle down and do more to improve the sustainability of the planet, their businesses and the livelihoods of consumers.

From Tesco urging shoppers to ‘take stock before you shop’ and Aldi partnering with Too Good To Go, to Morrisons, Lidl and Sainsbury’s launching wonky fruit and veg ranges to limit food waste, there are countless initiatives which will make a real difference in reducing GHG emissions.

The industry is by no means perfect and there is a long way to go before carbon and methane emissions will reach the levels needed to meet the urgent climate goals. However, COP27 has been a turning point for the food industry, putting it on the global stage and helping world leaders and climate activists recognise the challenges ahead as they focus on securing a safe future for us all.

FeaturesSustainability

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