On September 29, in Ho Chi Minh City, the Food Bank Vietnam Network launched the “Stop Food Waste” campaign and introduced an atlas on food donation recommendations in Vietnam, in celebration of the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (September 29).

The program aims to raise community awareness about food waste and encourage people to change their consumption habits to save and reduce food waste. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), about one-third of all food produced globally is lost or wasted each year, equivalent to 1.3 billion tons. Meanwhile, nearly 800 million people continue to face poverty and malnutrition. Food waste is also responsible for around 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental pollution.

Vietnam ranks second (after China) in the Asia-Pacific region for food waste, with over 8 million tons of food lost or discarded each year, despite still being usable. This waste causes a financial loss of approximately USD 3.9 billion annually, accounting for nearly 2% of the country’s GDP.

The campaign encourages action from individuals, businesses, and organizations to work together to reduce waste in households, restaurants, and supply chains. It also promotes food donations, including surplus food donations to charities, helping those in need.

This campaign also contributes to environmental protection by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from decomposing food in landfills. It further encourages sustainable development in agriculture and consumption through food waste reduction.

During this campaign, Harvard Law School’s Food Law and Policy Clinic (FLPC) and other units introduced a recommendation atlas that can help Vietnam reduce food loss and waste, and feed millions of people in need.

“So much safe, edible food goes to waste every single day. But systems can change to make sure healthy  surplus food gets to those in need rather than wasting away in a landfill where it emits methane and contributes to climate change,” said Emily Broad Leib, clinical professor of law at Harvard Law School and faculty director of the FLPC. “Our recommendations for Vietnam build on local successes and local innovation, and help establish a way forward for Vietnamese leaders to reduce food waste, boost food donation, feed people who are hungry, and curb environmental damage.”

“As is the case in most countries, today it is cheaper and easier in Vietnam to send wholesome food to a landfill than to donate it to those facing hunger. The good news is that the Vietnamese government has already been proactive in addressing food loss and waste and our policy recommendations can help them continue their impressive progress towards Zero Hunger,” said Lisa Moon, President & CEO of The Global FoodBanking Network. “Foodbank Vietnam has been a pioneering organization in food recovery and redistribution and has laid a great foundation for how the entire country can waste less food and feed more people.”

“We are honored and proud to introduce the Food Donation Atlas, an essential document developed through research by the Harvard Law School and FLPC in collaboration with The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN) and the Vietnam Food Bank Network. This atlas aims to raise awareness and guide the community in safe, practical, and sustainable food donations. We hope to create a positive impact, contribute to reducing food waste, and ensure timely, safe, and high-quality nutritional food supplies, especially in times of disaster and pandemic response”, said Nguyen Tuan Khoi, chairman of Food Bank Vietnam.

“Food Bank Vietnam is committed to continuously developing new initiatives to support communities and people in need, and this atlas is part of that mission. We hope that through the recommendations, every individual and organization will be equipped with the necessary knowledge to join hands in building a sustainable, sharing community where no one is left behind.”

Through this campaign, Mr. Khoi hopes individuals and businesses will start with the simplest actions to create a community that is highly conscious of protecting food and the environment, contributing to a more sustainable future.

According to the Food Bank Vietnam, to reduce food waste and protect the environment, several initiatives have been launched, such as collecting usable food from farms, wholesale markets, and retrieving food from cafe and bakery chains to donate to the homeless and the Food Bank Vietnam’s beneficiary network.

Other products like tea leaves, coffee grounds, and organic waste are sent to Food Bank Vietnam’s community gardens (Nong Lam Food Bank Garden, Green Community) to be recycled into animal feed, compost, or used to grow vegetables and plants. Usable products are donated to shelters, charity houses, and partner organizations. This forms a closed-loop system with the goal and mission of reducing food waste in the community.

Speaking at the launching event, Ms. Le Nhat Thuy, President of C.P Vietnam Charity Fund, shared that the “Stop Food Waste” campaign not only aims to raise awareness but also brings practical solutions for everyone to have. can join the fight against food waste. She hopes the Food Donation Atlas will help people better understand the importance of donating food and how to do it effectively.

At the event, the Food Bank Vietnam Network also launched the “Food For Change” campaign series for 2024 to mark World Food Day on October 16, featuring two main programs: the Sustainable Food Forum and the 2024 Food Heroes Award Ceremony.

On this occasion, the organizers also presented gifts to disadvantaged children in Ho Chi Minh City. The Thai Business Association in Vietnam (Thaicham) donated essential supplies and food to those affected by natural disasters and floods in northern provinces, caused by storm No. 3, valued at VND 200 million.

Vietnam Food Bank Network.