FAO sounds alert about growing food waste in Asia Pacific region. At an event in Bangkok on 27 August, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) denounced the “huge amount of food that goes to waste” in the Asia-Pacific region, which is now having to confront harvest and distribution losses of around 30%. According to the FAO, 30% of grains are being lost and up to 42% of fruit and vegetables produced in the region. This is due to bad planning, destruction wreaked by insects and parasites, logistical deficiencies and consumer waste. The Asia-Pacific region, however, is still less wasteful than Europe and North America, which enjoy the sad accolade of being the world's food waste champions. South-east Asia is responsible for around 120 kg of food waste per capita per year, as opposed to almost 300 kg for the US and Europe, according to FAO figures. According to the FAO, if food waste was reduced by a quarter throughout the world, 870 million people suffering from chronic hunger in the world could be fed, including 536 million who live in the Asia-Pacific region. In its second quarterly report, the FAO confirmed its initial estimates for wheat production: namely, that global harvests of this grain are expected to reach record levels in 2013. A gross increase in production has been observed, which is mainly due to production in Europe. The FAO stated that global wheat production in 2013 stood at 704,000,000 tonnes, a 6.8% increase on 2012 levels (660 million tonnes). This will be enough to more than compensate for the reduction registered last year and is the highest volume ever produced. World rice production in 2013 is also expected to increase by 1.9%, to 500 million tonnes. (IL/transl.fl)