World Vision, Cheaf Target Food Waste in Mexico

World Vision México and Mexican startup Cheaf announced a partnership aimed at addressing hunger and food waste through a joint campaign under the slogan “Enough.” According to World Vision, in Mexico more than 28 million people face food deprivation and 10 million suffer from chronic hunger, even as the country wastes enough food to feed at least half of those experiencing hunger. 

Cheaf operates as a free mobile application that allows users to purchase surplus food from supermarkets, restaurants and other businesses at roughly one-third of the original price. As part of the alliance, from Feb. 19 to March 19, users can donate starting at MX$20 directly through the app. Funds will support the Enough initiative, which is focused on developing urban gardens to expand access to fresh food, strengthen self-sufficiency and promote community development.

Braulio Valenzuela, Country Manager, Cheaf Mexico, highlighted the environmental dimension of food waste. “Producing food that is never consumed requires approximately 40 billion m3 of water each year, equivalent to leaving a shower running for more than a million years, and nearly 30% of the world’s arable land. This level of resource waste can no longer be treated as minor, especially in a country where millions of children and adolescents face food insecurity.” he said.

Leticia Jiménez, Director of Marketing, Communication, and Fundraising, World Vision Mexico, stressed the urgency of coordinated action. “Despite living in a world of abundance, around 700 million people lack access to food. It is time to say enough to hunger and food waste and commit to transforming the reality of millions of children and adolescents who have the right to healthy, adequate and sufficient nutrition,” she stated.

Mexico Seeks Reform to Curb 34% Food Waste Rate

Mexico wastes 34% of the food produced for human consumption, about 20.4Mt annually, or 56,000t per day, according to World Bank data, even as food insecurity persists across the country. A 2013 World Bank report found that 28.7% of tortillas, 43.1% of white bread, 35.4% of beef, 37.2% of rice, 38.7% of fish, 48.7% of shrimp, 43.1% of milk and 40.2% of pork are lost or wasted each year.

Globally, one-third of all food produced, about 1.3 billion t, is lost or wasted annually. According to FAO 14% of food, valued at US$400 billion, is lost between harvest and distribution, while 17% is wasted at retail and consumer levels. If food waste were a country, it would rank as the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases. Decomposing food in landfills produces methane, a greenhouse gas more potent than carbon dioxide.

Food waste accounts for approximately 8% of global human-generated greenhouse gas emissions. The World Bank estimates that it generates about 36 million tons of CO2 annually, comparable to emissions from nearly 16 million vehicles. FAO data show that the blue water footprint, surface and groundwater,  associated with global food waste totals 250km3.

Mexican lawmakers are now seeking regulatory responses. Congressman Miguel Ángel Guevara, has introduced a proposal to amend Art. 54 of the General Law on Adequate and Sustainable Food. The initiative would require the Federal Government, through PROFECO, along with state authorities, to implement public awareness campaigns promoting habits that prevent food waste.

The proposal also calls for permanent training programs for commercial establishments to design and execute food waste prevention plans across supply chains, as well as research initiatives to strengthen measurement of the food chain’s water footprint and transition from measurement to reduction. Additional measures would promote responsible water use in food production and encourage sustainable resource management.

González said practical steps include better meal planning, proper food storage, purchasing seasonal produce, reusing ingredients and separating organic waste for composting. He added that buying local products can reduce costs, support small farmers and lower losses linked to transportation.