Prof. Haider Ali Al-Dulaimi
College of Administrative Sciences / Al-Mustaqbal University
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent a global roadmap for addressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. Among these goals, SDG 2 stands out, addressing hunger and achieving food security, and SDG 12, which focuses on sustainable consumption and production patterns, particularly reducing food loss and waste. Although the two goals appear separate in their overall orientation, they have strategic intersections that require complementary approaches to effectively address hunger and food waste issues.
In this article, we can address:
First: Food Security in the Context of SDG 2
The second goal is to "end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture." International estimates indicate that more than 735 million people worldwide suffer from hunger, making this goal one of the most pressing challenges. Achieving it requires addressing four key dimensions of food security: food availability, access, supply stability, and nutritional utilization.
Developing countries, in particular, face major challenges in this area, including weak agricultural infrastructure, climate variability, armed conflict, scarce investment in the agricultural sector, and the absence of integrated value chains.
Second: Loss and Waste within the Framework of SDG 12
Goal 12 focuses on ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns, and includes, among its sub-targets (12.3), a 50% reduction in food loss at the production level and a 50% reduction in food waste at the consumption level by 2030. Reports indicate that one-third of the food produced globally is lost or wasted, equivalent to approximately 1.3 billion tons annually. This loss leads to massive economic losses and depletes natural resources such as water, energy, and land.
Food waste is not only related to consumer behavior; it also includes poor storage and transportation, weak supply chains, and deficiencies in agricultural and marketing policies. Third: Intersections and Common Challenges
Despite the apparent differences in context between the two goals, achieving one contributes to the advancement of the other. The intersections can be summarized in the following points:
1. Strengthening food supply chains: By improving post-harvest, storage, and transportation technologies, waste can be reduced and food supply stability achieved, enhancing food security.
2. Climate-smart agricultural policies: Addressing climate change through sustainable agricultural practices contributes to improving productivity and reducing waste resulting from environmental disasters, serving both goals.
3. Raising awareness and changing consumer behavior: Reducing food waste at the individual and community levels enhances the efficiency of food distribution, enabling surpluses to be redirected to those in need.
4. Intersectoral Integration: Coordination between the Ministries of Agriculture, Trade, Environment, and Planning is required to develop integrated policies that effectively link production to consumption.
Fourth: Proposed Policies to Enhance Integration
1. Adopting a national strategy for comprehensive food security that links sustainable production with waste reduction.
2. Stimulate investments in agricultural technology and monitoring and follow-up systems to reduce waste along value chains.
3. Adopt laws and regulations that regulate market and consumer behavior and support a circular economy in the food sector.
4. Strengthen partnerships with the private sector and civil society to expand community initiatives to reduce waste and improve nutrition.
The integrated approach between SDGs 2 and 12 represents a strategic necessity for achieving sustainable development, not merely a political or theoretical luxury. Eradicating hunger cannot be achieved without effective management of food resources, while reducing waste will not achieve its full impact without contributing to closing the hunger gap. Therefore, linking agricultural, food, and environmental policies within a sustainable governance framework is the best way to achieve these intersecting goals.
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