The Food Processing Suppliers Association (FPSA), McLean, Va., became the first U.S.-based trade association to join the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), New York, and Messe Düsseldorf (producers of interpack in Germany) to fight global food loss through the internationally recognized “SAVE FOOD” initiative.

“SAVE FOOD” brings together stakeholders in industry, politics and research, facilitating dialogue to address the issue of the 1.3 billion tons per year of food that is lost on the way “from farm to fork.”

“In the United States alone, food is wasted at an estimated 1,400 calories per day per person, which translates into over 150 trillion calories per year,” says Scott Scriven, chairman of FPSA and president of Weber Inc., Kansas City, Mo. “If Europe and the United States could contain wasted food, the savings would be more than ample to feed the entire world.”

“Thirty-seven percent of the world’s food is wasted. FPSA will be evaluating ways that the association and its membership can help bring that number down through education and collaboration with Messe Düsseldorf and the FAO,” says David Seckman, president and CEO of FPSA.

FPSA will be seeking active participation from its members and councils representing the bakery, beverage, dairy, meat and prepared foods market segments.