The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) is to establish a new independent entity to take responsibility for driving a reduction in the amount of wasted food across Australia.
Announced by the Minister for the Environment, Sussan Ley and Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction, Trevor Evans, proposals for entering partnerships with the new entity are being invited to set up the new food waste governance body to drive the country’s National Food Waste Strategy.
“This new body will be a catalyst for tackling food waste in Australia by bringing together industry, businesses, government, research institutions and food rescue organisations to find innovative, practical solutions to our food waste problems,” Ms Ley said.
“By reducing food waste, we can put money back into household budgets, improve business bottom lines and reduce the amount of waste going to landfill,” she said.
She said that in total, Australia wasted more than 7.3 million tonnes of food every year costing the economy over $20 billion annually.
Ms Ley said the new governance body would operate in partnership with DAWE.
Mr Evans said the new body would support change in all parts of the farm-to-fork food supply chain, from farmers, food manufacturers and wholesalers through to retailers, hospitality, households and food rescue organisations, as well as create new jobs in food innovation.
He said a key responsibility of the new entity would be to implement a voluntary commitment program for industry, and to monitor reporting and performance for continual improvement.
Applications for the partnership close on 7 September with more information available on the DAWE website at this PS News link.
