Sydney March 28 (IANS) Australian billionaire Anthony Pratt on Tuesday declared war on food wastage a problem that costs the nation s economy $15 billon each year.
Pratt a paper packaging and recycling magnate said at the fifth annual Global Food Forum in Melbourne that food wastage had become our nation s hidden crisis as more than 9 million tonnes of food was wasted annually.
Food waste is not only costly to business and households but two million children go hungry and it s our nation s hidden crisis said Pratt executive chairman of Visy.
Put simply stopping food waste would effectively double your product sales to end-customers from the same farm footprint.
Pratt s speech came as Australian Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg announced plans to convene a forum in Melbourne ahead of the government s first National Food Waste Summit in November.
The challenge before us is considerable. Food waste is estimated to cost the Australian economy in the order of ($15 billion) annually and compounds social disadvantage. Solutions will require cooperation between governments industry and other stakeholders Frydenberg said in a letter to roundtable invitees.
It was announced at the forum that the philanthropic arms of the wealthy Myer and Fairfax families were bankrolling Australia s first ever surplus food online marketplace which they believe could one day be floated on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX).
--IANS
mr/py
Aussie billionaire declares war on food wastage
