Sweden

Method for following up on national food losses levels

The Swedish Board of Agriculture is developing a method for monitoring food losses during the production and processing of eight commodities: pork, beef, milk, fish, wheat, potatoes, carrots and strawberries. The aim is to use existing data as much as possible but when needed, further measurements may be added.

Discussions with farmers and industry representatives will be an important step in this process. Researchers from the Swedish Agriculture University and the Research Institutes of Sweden are also engaged in the project.

The purpose of developing this method is to get a clearer picture of food losses occuring at the Swedish food production level and its causes. It also aims to measure progress towards the new national goal for food losses and to contribute with more data to the food loss indicator for the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 12.3. A follow-up report and evaluation are expected to start in 2021.

For more information: handelomarknad@jordbruksverket.se

Milestone target to reduce food loss and waste

To facilitate progress towards the Swedish generational goal and the environmental quality objectives, the Swedish government adopted milestone targets in priority areas. In June 2020, the Swedish Government decided on two new milestone targets aiming to reduce both food loss and waste. All milestone targets are followed up on a regular basis, with annual reports to the government and an in-depth evaluation once every parliamentary term.

In June 2019, the Swedish government gave the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) an assignment to develop and suggest new milestone targets. One of the specific areas of interest was food loss and waste reduction, in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 12.3. The Swedish EPA delivered the assignment to the Swedish Government in February 2020. For reduced food waste, the milestone target proposal was formulated to provide a driving force for measures and contribute to behavioural changes throughout the food chain. The milestone target is to contribute to a uniform definition, measurement and follow-up and to motivate a shared responsibility in the food chain for the losses that occur. The milestone target should lead to reduce both food losses and food waste, addressing all the sub-goals of the SDG Target 12.3, while strengthening the Swedish implementation of the 2030 Agenda and contributing to a circular economy.

For more information, please follow the following links (content in SV):

• http://sverigesmiljomal.se/etappmalen/
• http://www.naturvardsverket.se/Miljoarbete-i-samhallet/Sveriges-miljomal/Etappmal/

Behavioural project with interventions to help consumers reduce their food waste

A behavioural design project has been launched, which aims to make it easier for consumers to reduce their food waste. The focus of this project is not on giving more information to the consumers, but to make it easier for them to do ”the right thing”, by providing nudges for example. The experiments will take place in grocery stores. A consultant company with expertise in behavioural design is carrying out the project.

The ongoing phase is behaviour mapping and analysis via a literature review and interviews with experts. Stakeholders will be recruited for the intervention arenas. At the end of 2020, possible interventions will be discussed in workshops with stakeholders.The interventions will take place during 2021 and a report will be published late 2021.

The work is part of the implementation of the Swedish Action Plan for food loss and food waste reduction by 2030 ’More to do more’, published in 2018.