Halving Australia's food waste by 2030

The inaugural Food Waste Roundtable is being held in Melbourne today, offering the Turnbull government a chance to discuss its commitment to a National Food Waste Strategy.

Australian consumers currently waste 20% of food purchased, or essentially throw away one in five shopping baskets of food. Around three million tonnes is wasted from the commercial and industrial sector, costing $10.5 billion in waste disposal charges and lost product. The cost of food waste to the overall economy is estimated to be $20 billion each year — something which Environment and Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg is hoping to change.

Speaking at the roundtable, Frydenberg will reveal that he has secured the support of state and territory environment ministers to deliver on the goal of halving Australia’s food wastage by 2030. Through the National Food Waste Strategy, the government aims to empower all those engaged in the food rescue space to undertake meaningful action.

To be co-hosted by the Pratt Foundation, the roundtable will bring together representatives from government, industry, academia and the not-for-profit sector. It will be an important opportunity to map a way forward ahead of the National Food Waste Summit, to be held in November.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/HighwayStarz