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2024 World Union of Wholesale Markets (WUWM) Conference

30 October 2024, Video Message by Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General for the 2024 2024 World Union of Wholesale Markets (WUWM) Conference - “Wholesale Markets and the Food of the Future – Insights and Opportunities for the Agrifood Sector”

Language English

Duration 4m33s

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Video Type Video Message

Date 10/30/2024 9:04 AM

File size 493.30 MB

Unique ID UF17Z0A

Production details and shotlist

Script Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Colleagues,

1. I am pleased to address you today at the opening of this year’s conference with the theme Wholesale Markets and the Food of the Future – Insights and Opportunities for the Agrifood Sector.
2. As a priority, we need to prevent and reduce food loss and waste in wholesale markets to ensure more contribution to food availability, accessibility and affordability.
3. FAO’s most recent estimate shows that 13.2% of the food produced globally is lost from the point of harvest up to wholesale markets before it reaches retail.
4. The highest levels of food loss take place in perishable products – fresh fruits and vegetables, and meat and animal products.
5. It is further estimated that 19% of total global food production that reaches the consumption stage is wasted.
6. Food loss and waste are occurring against a backdrop of significant hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition in the world.
7. With 733 million people – that is 1 out of 11 people - in the world faced hunger in 2023.
8. The latest State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report confirms that 2.8 billion people are unable to afford a healthy diet, and around 2.33 billion people – about 29% of the global population - are moderately or severely food insecure.
9. In addition, food loss and waste worsened the environmental degradation.
10. We must reduce food loss and waste to protect the environment, and to ensure more sustainable food security for all.
11. Wholesale markets are a key leverage point for agrifood system transformation from producers to consumers.
12. So, we must be strategic in the design of interventions at wholesale markets, and across the entire value chain.
13. We need to maximize the use of all food raw materials that is fit for food diversity with science-based consumption.
14. We need to champion green lifestyles, as well as transformation of food products, and alternative uses of by-products.
15. It is also important to foster innovations and digitalization, to improve the efficiency of operations and reduce the generation of greenhouse gas emissions, while maximizing economic returns and facilitating the inclusion of women and youth along the value chain.
Dear Colleagues,
16. FAO has a long history of supporting wholesale food markets in developing countries, as part of efforts to assist countries transform their agrifood systems to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
17. FAO’s support has covered areas such as training on post-harvest handling, measurement and data collection.
18. We have also raised awareness by working with financial institutions to coordinate investments, and ensure policy coherence among municipal, local, and national levels.
19. The recently launched FAO Food Loss App provides a simple and user-friendly tool for measuring food losses for informed decision-making based on evidence-based solutions.
20. During this year’s International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, we highlighted the critical need for financing to boost efforts to reduce food loss and waste, to support achieving climate goals, and advancing the 2030 Agenda.
21. FAO is committed to continuing to work with all partners along the value chain to achieve the Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life - leaving no one behind.
22. I wish you a fruitful conference.
23. Thank you.

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