The SAVE FOOD journey

At its first appearance in interpack 2011, the exhibition organized by Messe Düsseldorf SAVE FOOD informed about the extent of global food loss along the food value chain. As evidence of the interest aroused, the undertaking has already been hosted at  the World Food Day at FAO headquarters in Rome, by the German packaging specialist MULTIVAC. In 2013 it will first fly to Moscow for Upakovka/UPAK Italia (January 29-February 1st) and then on to Chicago Process Expo (November 3rd to 6th).

«Our SAVE FOOD undertaking continues to arouse great interest at international level even after Interpack 2011, emphasizing the importance of the subject for the companies operating along the food value chain, especially in the packaging sector and related industries. We have in fact managed to raise awareness among stakeholders on a theme of global significance» states Bernd Jablonowski, director of interpack and head of SAVE FOOD at Messe Düsseldorf.

According to surveys carried out by the FAO on international food loss (the results were presented at Interpack 2011, Ed), in the US in particular households are accountable for the high rate of food waste. North American consumers account for about one quarter of the total losses of cereal-based products, while for example losses caused by households in sub-Saharan countries amount to only 1%.
According to FAO surveys the pattern is typical of developed countries where food losses occur mainly towards the end of the value chain rather than in the production phase. In addition to more pondered purchasing habits and reflective approach towards food expiry dates, concepts of smart packaging can help combat consumer food wastage, thus safeguarding available resources.

The use of modern packaging technology together with associated production processes for example not only ensures less wastage in the production phase, but also enables the extension of the shelf life of the final products. Likewise, packaging materials with high-tech sensory functions can provide information on the freshness of a packaged food product.
An undertaking open to companies and concerns, SAVE FOOD aims to connect up the two protagonists of the economy, namely politics and research. The aim is to stimulate a constructive dialogue to be able to work out solutions in order to lessen food losses along the value chain. Currently about 50 companies and associations have joined the project. In collaboration with the partner FAO, the focus will be to increase the still rather partial knowledge as to the extent of world food losses, resulting in more accurate figures that can support concrete measures.

SAVE FOOD Created in May 2011 with an international conference and exhibition as part of interpack, the undertaking is the result of the cooperation between the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and Messe Düsseldorf GmbH. its first goal is to bring together  the two protagonists of economics, namely politics and research, to stimulate dialogue in order to work out solutions along the food value chain capable of combating worldwide food loss. A further objective is to launch and promote single "save food" projects with the support of  the industry.
For more information www.save-food.org.