Published on 6/7/2026
Turkish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Ibrahim Yumakli warned that about a third of the food produced in the world is lost or wasted before it reaches consumers’ tables, noting that the economic losses resulting from this phenomenon are estimated at about one trillion dollars annually.
Yumakli’s statements came during a symposium within the activities of the “Zero Waste 2026” Forum in Istanbul, where participants discussed ways to reduce post-harvest losses and enhance the efficiency of food supply chains in light of the increasing challenges facing global food security.
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The Turkish minister said that the concept of “zero waste” is not limited to waste management, but rather represents “a will to protect life and humanity” and reflects “an integrated cultural understanding,” stressing that waste was not historically acceptable in Turkish culture or in the Islamic faith.
He added that his country is working to build an integrated system to reduce losses at various stages of the food chain, starting from agricultural production and harvesting, through storage, transportation and marketing, all the way to the final consumer, in a way that supports the shift towards a circular economy and enhances the efficiency of resource use.
Yumacli stressed that confronting food waste is not the responsibility of governments alone, but rather requires the participation of the private sector, local administrations, civil society organizations and citizens, stressing that “any vision cannot be sustainable without broad societal adoption of it.”
He explained that enhancing food security is not only linked to increasing production, but also requires preserving existing products, storing them in appropriate conditions, transporting them safely, and delivering them efficiently to markets and consumers.
He added: “Protecting food means protecting human effort, water and soil. It also means protecting the climate, and most importantly, protecting human dignity and future generations.”
International warnings
The forum comes at a time when international warnings are increasing about the effects of climate change, rising agricultural production costs, and disruptions to global supply chains on food security, making reducing loss and waste one of the most important paths to enhancing the sustainability of food systems.
The Zero Waste 2026 Forum, which ends today, hosts representatives from 183 countries, with the participation of government officials, business leaders, international organizations, and experts in the fields of environment and sustainable development.
The forum discusses issues of the circular economy, resource efficiency, sustainable cities, transformation in the energy sector, and converting waste into economic value.
