Saadet Party warnings on food waste in Turkey

The Saadet Party has raised alarms regarding the scale of food waste in Turkey, characterizing it as a significant loss of national resources, including water, soil, energy, and labor. Reports indicate that approximately 18 million tons of food are lost or wasted annually, which constitutes roughly one-fifth of the country’s total food production.

Party officials have identified various stages of the supply chain where losses occur, ranging from agricultural production—where products failing to meet market standards are left in fields—to retail and household consumption. Specifically, household waste is estimated at 8.7 million tons per year, with approximately 23% of purchased food being discarded, often due to unplanned shopping.

To mitigate these losses, the party has proposed several systemic interventions. These include strengthening cold chain infrastructure, expanding food banking to redistribute edible products, and utilizing digital technologies for better supply chain management. Additionally, they have called for increased local government involvement through the implementation of compost and biogas facilities to manage organic waste.