International Day of Zero Waste

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food for all people.

Dr Papiso Tshabalala at Biotechnology and Food Technology - expert in Food safety. This meets their dietary needs and preferences for an active and healthy life. Furthermore, the African Circular Economy Alliance’s (ACEA) reports indicate that reducing food loss, harmonising safety standards, and valorising waste are critical to achieving the SDGs. It highlights the urgency of improving storage, redistribution, and safety. It also emphasises the urgent need for harmonising national circular economy roadmaps

In South Africa, food security remains a pressing challenge. The Constitution (Section 27) guarantees the right to sufficient food and water, obligating the state to progressively realise this right. Yet nearly 30% of South Africans face food insecurity, with reports indicating that hunger levels are at their highest in more than a decade.

Farmers play a vital role in sustaining food availability, but rising costs, global supply chain disruptions, and persistent inequality continue to threaten access and stability. At the same time, South Africa wastes about one-third of its food production annually (≈31%), slightly higher than the Sub-Saharan Africa regional average of 30–35%. This highlights a sharp imbalance between waste and hunger.

The major cause of food waste in South Africa is early losses in the fresh produce supply chain, driven by poor storage, handling, and distribution systems. Tackling this requires investment in better infrastructure, cold-chain systems, and consumer education to reduce waste and strengthen food security.

Looking ahead, a circular future for food waste means rethinking waste as a resource:

• Preventing it where possible,
• Redistributing surplus food to those in need, and
• Transforming unavoidable waste into energy, fertiliser, or new products.

This approach not only reduces environmental impact but also enhances food security and builds economic resilience.

In conclusion, Africa’s future food security depends on embedding zero-waste and circular-economy strategies with food safety at the core. For SADC, harmonised policies, infrastructure investment, and scaling proven South African initiatives can accelerate progress toward the SDGs.