Romania has reduced food waste by 5% since 2016 and until now, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Petre Daea, said on Thursday at a sustainable gastronomy event, organized in the courtyard of the institution, stating that he personally reduces waste „by eating what it is necessary, as much as necessary and when it is necessary”, according to Agerpres.

„From 2016 until now, food waste has been reduced by 5%, and the amount is different from one institution to another. I would not go into the interpretation of the quantities, because they are relative,” stated Daea, at the event dedicated to the celebration of the International Food Waste Awareness Day.

Asked how we compare in terms of food waste at the level of the European Union, the minister emphasized that Romania is not in a more difficult situation than other countries.

In his opinion, September 29, when the International Food Waste and Food Waste Awareness Day is celebrated, is a moment of reflection, but also one of instruction.

Also, Daea reiterated that currently there is a legislation regarding the reduction of food waste, which clearly stipulates what must be done with food that is approaching its expiration date.

According to MADR data provided to AGERPRES, in 2019, a total amount of 7,601 kg of food was donated/received, worth 176,361.59 RON, in 2020, a total amount of 14,817.43 kg of food was donated, worth of 348,312.85 RON, and last year – 5.5 million kg of food, worth 14,090,710 RON. These data reveal the evolution of the implementation of the food donation mechanism, since the application of the provisions of Law no. 217/2016 on reducing food waste.

Currently, 38 entities involved in the food donation mechanism are registered in the List of recipient operators, managed and published on the institution’s official website, of which ten are food banks, which cover the entire territory of Romania.

Agerpres