To explore the role of food recovery in mitigating climate change and increasing community resilience, The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN) and the Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic (FLPC), with funding from the Global Methane Hub (GMH), examined a set of key laws and policies in Mexico that could support food recovery. While a broad constellation of polices can impact food donation and recovery, the research for this report focused on a selection of policies that use economic instruments — specifically incentives or penalties — such as carbon taxes; carbon markets or greenhouse gas offset mechanisms; financial penalties, such as food waste deterrence policies like organic waste bans or food donation requirements; and other incentives like tax benefits to enhance food recovery.
This report provides individuals, policymakers, and organizations interested in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions through food recovery with information about the relevant policies in Mexico that might help further their goals, as well as opportunities for further progress.
The action opportunities presented in this paper and summarized in brief below provide a starting point for policymakers to build on to strengthen Mexico’s existing methane emissions policies by incorporating an increased focus on facilitating food donation. Policies that support food recovery and redistribution not only address social concerns such as poverty and high rates of food insecurity, but they also mitigate methane emissions by reducing the amount of organic waste decomposing in landfills. Across all opportunities, it is essential to include food banks in the policy conversation from the start to ensure effective policy implementation and increase food donations,
thereby maximizing methane emissions reductions. In addition to the action opportunities identified herein, policymakers should consider additional opportunities to advance food donation and reduce methane emissions from food waste. They should partner with and include voices from food banks and other organizations with the mission to reduce food loss and waste and increase food donation (collectively referred to as “food recovery organizations”), as well as food donors.
The paper suggests action opportunities in the following areas: carbon tax, carbon markets, methane regulation, food waste deterrence and other policies to encourage food donation.
Auteurs
This report was written by Gray E. Norton, Heather Latino, and Emily M. Broad Leib, at the Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic with contributions from Ana Catalina Suárez Peña and María Isabela Molina Maestre at The Global FoodBanking Network.
Le réseau mondial des banques alimentaires
Les banques alimentaires offrent une solution à la fois à la faim chronique et à la crise climatique. GFN travaille avec des partenaires dans plus de 50 pays pour récupérer et rediriger la nourriture vers ceux qui en ont besoin. En 2023, notre réseau a fourni de la nourriture à plus de 40 millions de personnes, réduisant ainsi le gaspillage alimentaire et créant des communautés saines et résilientes. Nous aidons le système alimentaire à fonctionner comme il se doit : nourrir les gens et la planète ensemble. Pour en savoir plus, rendez-vous sur banquealimentaire.org.
Clinique de droit et de politique alimentaire de la Harvard Law School
Since 2010, the Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic (FLPC) has served partner organizations and communities in the U.S. and around the world by providing guidance on cutting edge of food system issues, while engaging law students in the practice of food law and policy. FLPC is committed to advancing a cross-sector, multi-disciplinary and inclusive approach to its work, building partnerships with academic institutions, government agencies, non-profit organizations, private sector actors, and civil society with expertise in public health, the environment, and the economy. FLPC’s work focuses on increasing access to nutritious foods, addressing the climate related impacts of food and agricultural systems, reducing waste of healthy, wholesome food, and promoting food system justice. For more information, visit chlpi.org/food-law-and-policy.
Hub mondial du méthane
Les recherches présentées dans ce rapport ont été rendues possibles grâce au financement du Global Methane Hub. Les constatations, conclusions et recommandations présentées dans ce rapport sont celles du FLPC et du GFN uniquement et ne reflètent pas nécessairement les opinions du Global Methane Hub.
