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 Ecuador 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 and strengthen Ecuador’s existing methane emissions policies by incorporating an increased focus on facilitating food donation. Policies that support food recovery and redistribution work not only to address social concerns such as poverty and high rates of food insecurity, but also to 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 accounting instruments, carbon tax, methane legislation, food waste deterrence and other policies to promote food donation.
Autores
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.
A Rede Global de FoodBanking
O banco de alimentos oferece uma solução tanto para a fome crônica quanto para a crise climática. A GFN trabalha com parceiros em mais de 50 países para recuperar e redirecionar alimentos para aqueles que precisam. Em 2023, nossa Rede forneceu alimentos para mais de 40 milhões de pessoas, reduzindo o desperdício de alimentos e criando comunidades saudáveis e resilientes. Ajudamos o sistema alimentar a funcionar como deveria: nutrindo as pessoas e o planeta juntos. Saiba mais em foodbanking.org.
Clínica de Política e Legislação Alimentar da Faculdade de Direito de Harvard
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.
Centro Global de Metano
A pesquisa incluída neste relatório foi possível por meio do financiamento do Global Methane Hub. As descobertas, conclusões e recomendações apresentadas neste relatório são somente da FLPC e da GFN e não refletem necessariamente as opiniões do Global Methane Hub.
