G20 Agricultural Ministers Decry Food Waste

At the conclusion of the May 7-8 Group of 20 (G20) Agricultural Ministers meetings in Istanbul, Turkey, the attending Agricultural Ministers issued a statement regarding the “enormous economic, environmental and societal significance” of food waste. 

According to the group’s Final Communiqué, global waste can result in “negative consequences for food security, nutrition, use of natural resources and the environment.” The Agricultural Ministers acknowledged that while food waste issues will necessarily vary among diverse nations, all nations should strive to use “otherwise wasted food to feed people.”

To provide nations with guidance regarding the reduction of food waste, the Agricultural Ministers proposed that the G20 Agricultural Deputies and G20 Development Working Group create a G20 Action Plan on Food Security/Sustainable Food Systems in time to be considered at the November 2015 G20 Leaders’ Summit in Antalya, Turkey. 


United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack issued a statement commending the efforts of the Agricultural Ministers in addressing the issue of food waste.  Significantly, Secretary Vilsack noted that the Agricultural Ministers “focused on suggesting how countries might approach the issue rather than regulating or compelling people to stop food waste.” 

Written by M. Sean High - Staff attorney

June 1, 2015