China announces plan to reduce food waste in production, transport and storage

China has announced an action plan to reduce food loss and waste.

This came days after President Xi Jinping delivered a speech at the Group of 20 summit in Brazil, declaring that China was joining the group. Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty and would remain a committed host of the International Conference on Food Loss and Waste.

The proposal released Monday by the general offices of the Communist Party Central Committee and State Council said the goal by the end of 2027 was to “maintain the loss rates of grain and foodstuffs during production phases, storage, transport and processing below international average levels. .

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China’s grain security is under pressure from climate change and the international political and economic situation, Han Jingbo, head of the National Development and Reform Commission, told The Paper, a news portal based in Shanghai.

The plan lists key tasks to reduce food loss and waste. It calls for technical standards in grain production and harvesting, equipment innovation and training of agricultural machinery operators. It also encourages higher standards for storage and the creation of special transportation routes and equipment to reduce grain losses.

It aims to raise public awareness about food conservation, reduction of personal and household waste and healthy eating. Restaurants and government canteens will launch anti-waste campaigns encouraging packaging leftovers and punishing waste.

A statistical survey system will assess the wastage of grains, meat, vegetables, fruits, aquatic products and other comprehensive food categories, he added.