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31 March 2026, Geneva, Switzerland - On 2 April 2026, UNITAR will host the webinar “Food Waste Prevention in Practice: Learning, Policy, and Community Solutions” in the context of the International Day of Zero Waste. The 90-minute online event will bring together experts and practitioners to explore how learning, public policy, and community-led action can help tackle food waste, a major but preventable driver of environmental harm and food insecurity.
The webinar will highlight the global urgency of reducing food loss and waste, while showing how practical solutions can be applied across households, businesses, and public institutions. Participants will hear how awareness-raising, education, and capacity development can move stakeholders from understanding the problem to taking measurable action. The event will also connect food waste prevention to wider goals such as the circular economy, climate action, resource efficiency, and the right to food.
The “Food Waste Prevention in Practice” event aims to:
- Provide an overview of the global relevance of food loss and waste prevention in the context of zero waste, circular economy, right to food, food security, and climate action;
- Highlight how learning and capacity development can support action towards reducing food waste;
- Share concrete case studies from different country contexts;
- Inspire participants to adopt or scale practical measures in policy, education, community work, and business practice;
- Channel participants toward continued action after the webinar, especially through the course, partnerships, and replication of tested approaches.
Participants will also unpack case studies from China, South Africa, and Trinidad and Tobago. These examples will showcase concrete responses, from supply-chain collaboration and voluntary agreements to public education and community-based initiatives. Speakers include Maya Valcheva of UNITAR, Si Gao of IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Hanneke Van Linge of Nosh Food Rescue NPC, and Sian Cuffy-Young of Siel Environmental Services Ltd.
By convening government representatives, civil society, academic institutions, youth, and private sector actors, the event aims to inspire participants to adopt and scale practical measures to prevent food waste.