Saadet Party officials warn of significant food waste in Turkey

Representatives of the Saadet Party in Turkey have issued warnings regarding the scale of food waste, describing it as a loss of national resources, labor, and environmental assets such as water and soil.

In Üsküdar, İsmet Buyruk noted that approximately 8.7 million tons of food are wasted annually in Turkey, representing about 20% of total production. He highlighted that between 2019 and 2021, roughly 18 million tons were lost or wasted. Buyruk also pointed out that 23% of food purchased in households is thrown away, often due to unplanned shopping.

In Niğde, Ahmet Özkul emphasized that preventing waste requires more than just individual calls to action; it necessitates improving the entire food chain. He advocated for reducing post-harvest losses, strengthening cold chain infrastructure, and expanding food banking to ensure edible products from markets reach those in need.

Proposed solutions include implementing national measurement systems, utilizing digital technologies for supply chain management, and increasing local government involvement through compost and biogas facilities to manage organic waste.