The reality, and solutions to save Australia’s food from going to waste are being highlighted at the 2024 National Food Waste Summit in Melbourne this week from July 24 to 25.
According to data from End Food Waste Australia, Australians are throwing away 7.6 million tonnes of food every year, worth $36.6.
At the summit, experts and industry leaders from companies such as Coles, Simplot, Sodexo, McCain Foods, and Goodman Fielder are rallying to tackle this national challenge.
CEO of End Food Waste Australia, Dr Steven Lapidge, said the company is attempting to bring together industry, government and Australians to end food waste.
“The equivalent of 29 million meals go to waste every day – enough to provide lunch daily for every Australian, while 3.7 million households are struggling to put food on the table. For families, food waste costs $2500 a year on average,” said Lapidge.
“Food waste happens from paddock to plate and 70% is still edible. We’re bringing industry, government and Australians together to end food waste.”
The national Food Waste Summit features international guests like Dana Gunders from ReFED, USA, and EU food waste project leader Toine Timmermans from the Netherlands, who are leading the global charge on food waste action and will share insights on tackling food waste.
Industry leaders from Coles, Sodexo, McCain Foods, Simplot and Goodman Fielder will discuss the impact of the Australian Food Pact, which helped businesses save up to $4000 per tonne of food waste.
ABC’s Gardening Australia host Costa Georgiadis will MC the summit.
The 2024 National Food Waste Summit will also showcase innovative and forward-thinking solutions like food waste-free cities and cutting-edge packaging to extend shelf life.
Innovative companies will also be highlighted, like Nutri V who are transforming waste streams into nutritious and delicious snacks, demonstrating how technology and creativity can transform our approach to food.
The two-day event at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre comes at the midway point of Australia’s food waste action plan and six years since the launch of the National Food Waste Strategy and six years to go until the 2030 target.
“Australia’s food waste doesn’t just burn a hole in our pockets – it’s an environmental disaster. The resources squandered are mind-boggling. It’s crunch time, with the cost-of-living crisis bringing the need for action into sharp focus… This summit is crucial,” Dr Lapidge said.
“With the right moves, we can cut waste, save billions of dollars, and make sure every Aussie has enough to eat. There’s no time to waste, ending food waste starts with us all,” he said.
