In commemoration of the Fourth International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste on September 29, 2023, we reflect on the profound lessons learned during the Building Nations Initiative’s (BNI) LifePAD 2023 programme. This year’s theme, “Reducing Food Loss and Waste: Taking Action to Transform Agrifood Systems,” set by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), beautifully aligns with our experiences at the LifePAD 2023.
Throughout LifePAD 2023, our dedicated facilitators, such as Mrs. Bimbo Adedeji, Dr. Boluwatife Olatoye, Mrs. Josephine Omoniyi, and others, nurtured the minds of our teenage participants. They not only imparted knowledge but also instilled essential values for building sustainable agrifood systems, fostering a profound connection to the world around them.
One of the program’s highlights was our visit to local farms, where teenagers witnessed the journey of food from seed to plate. This experience deepened their understanding of the significance of reducing food loss and waste. As we celebrated our closing ceremony, we witnessed remarkable growth in our participants, who demonstrated their newfound knowledge through insightful presentations, discussions on prejudice and peer pressure, and creative expressions.
LifePAD 2023 embodied this year’s FAO theme by empowering teenagers to take action and cultivate a sense of responsibility towards agrifood systems and food loss reduction. The Building Nations Initiative (BNI) is proud to contribute to the global movement for a more sustainable future. We express our heartfelt gratitude to the FAO for championing this crucial cause. Together, with unity and determination, let us all work towards transforming agrifood systems, minimising food loss and waste, and ensuring a world where every meal celebrates sustainability, building a brighter future for generations to come.