The 2024 National Food Waste Summit has highlighted both progress and lingering challenges towards Australia’s goal to halve food waste by 2030.
Australia generates 7.6 million tonnes of food waste each year, costing the economy billions of dollars.
Meanwhile, 3.7 million Australian households experience food insecurity, a troubling paradox in a nation that produces enough food to feed its population three times over, the Food Waste Summit has heard.
CEO of End Food Waste Australia (EFWA), Dr Steven Lapidge shared updates on the nation’s progress in a Food and Drink Business report.
“Our target is to reduce food waste by 4.6 million tonnes,” he said.
“Our modelling shows if we do nothing else from today, we will reduce waste by 1.4 tonnes.”
Dr Lapidge said to reach the target would take a further $135 million in new investment.
The 2024-2030 Strategic Business Plan offers a roadmap to tackle the crisis, but success depends on cooperation from all levels—industry, government, and community groups.
Key efforts include collaboration with retailers and farmers to rescue surplus food and implementing sector-specific action plans, such as those targeting horticulture, which accounts for half of Australia’s food waste.
While these efforts are critical, food insecurity remains a growing issue.
CEO of Foodbank Australia, Brianna Casey told the summit that a bill that would remove regulatory barriers and unlock an additional 100 million meals annually by 2030.
Another critical issue is Australia’s reliance on landfills, where much of the wasted food ends up, releasing harmful methane gas.
With the EFWA is planning a national behaviour change campaign later this year, there is optimism that public awareness and policy changes can accelerate progress.
Video: In a world where food waste and hunger exist side by side, Food Not Bombs Sydney is making a difference. Since 2020, this mutual aid group has been rescuing surplus food destined for landfill and transforming it into free vegan meals. Volunteers also help raise awareness about food waste, poverty and what they believe is the misallocation of resources.
