Addressing food loss and waste in fish value chain using a web-based information, Repository

Abstract

Food loss and waste (FLW) in fisheries is a major concern and occur in most fish distribution chains throughout the world. FLW across the fish value chain is estimated to be 35 percent. These losses constitute lost income to fishers, processors and traders and other value chain actors and contribute to food and nutrition insecurity. Thus, it is globally recognized as a challenge that needs to be addressed. There has been much work done to address and prevent losses in fisheries value chains. However, a key issue is related to the availability and quality of information. Information needed to guide policy development and management of the resources is of poor quality and often not produced or distributed in a timely manner. The 32nd Session of the Committee on Fisheries (COFI), July 2016 reiterated the topical importance of reducing fish losses and made a plea for the development by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for a guidance for reduction of fish losses. FAO, through the Products, Trade and Marketing Branch (FIAM), supported by the Norwegian government had developed an information repository that can provide solutions for reducing or eliminating food losses for common loss scenarios in fish value chains. It provides access to fish loss and waste related information for informed policy in the fisheries and aquaculture from the post-harvest to consumption stages. It aims to provide guidance to policy-makers, development practitioners, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and value chain actors ability to facilitate the development of solutions to food loss scenarios on the ground at the targeted points of the supply chain, as well as at policy level. The development of the repository was guided by an internal FAO specialist group covering food loss, policy, fisheries and ICT and an expert group of specialists coming from the public sector, civil society and research institutions with representation of a range of geographical regions. A series of internal and external consultations were done before the webpage was launched on May 2019.