(English) Italy adopts new law to slash food waste

Italy has passed into law a raft of new measures to try to reduce the mountain of food wasted in the country each year.

The bill – backed by 181 Senators, with two against and 16 abstaining – aims to cut waste one million tonnes from the estimated five million it wastes each year.

It has been heralded as “one of the most beautiful and practical legacies” of the Expo Milano 2015 international exhibition – which focused on tackling hunger and food waste worldwide – by Agriculture Minister Maurizio Martina.

What’s the problem?

According to ministers, food waste costs Italy’s business and households more than €12bn (£10bn; $13.4bn) per year. Studies suggest it could amount to more than 1% of GDP.

The problem is by no means confined to Italy.

The UN Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) estimates that some one third of food may be wasted worldwide – a figure which rises to some 40% in Europe. “The food currently wasted in Europe could feed 200 million people,” the FSO says.

It’s not the first time Italy has acted decisively over issues of hunger and food.

Three months ago, its highest court ruled that stealing small amounts of food to stave off hunger was not a crime.

So tell me more about the specific measures?

Now businesses will be able to record donations in one simple form every month.

They won’t face sanctions for giving away food past its sell-by date, and will pay less waste tax the more they give away.

Farmers will be able to give away unsold produce to charities without incurring costs.

The agricultural ministry will spend €1m researching innovative ways to package foods in transit to prevent spoilage and extend shelf life, and a public information campaign aiming to reduce food wastage will be rolled out.

But it is perhaps the drive to promote “family bags” which has attracted most interest from ordinary diners, and which will require the biggest cultural shift.