Economy

In Ukraine, food won’t be thrown away but will be distributed to people: what is food banking?

The Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine, together with the Ukrainian Federation of Food Banks, has signed a memorandum of cooperation aimed at developing a food banking system in Ukraine—a mechanism for distributing edible food to people in need. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian", citing the Ministry of Economy and the Ukrainian Federation of Food Banks.

The document was signed by Deputy Minister Taras Vysotsky and the Chairman of the Board of the Ukrainian Federation of Food Banks, Dmytro Shkrabatovsky.

What is a food banking system?

Food banking is a system that allows unsold but still edible food to be distributed to socially vulnerable groups instead of being disposed of.

The mechanism provides that:

• producers and retailers transfer products to food banks
• organizations sort and assemble food packages
• aid is distributed to people in need.

This model has long been in use in European Union countries and the United States and is considered an effective tool for combating food waste.

How much food is discarded in Ukraine each year

According to experts, approximately 2.7 million tons of food are discarded in Ukraine each year, a significant portion of which could have been used.

At the same time:

• more than 12.7 million Ukrainians are in need of humanitarian aid
• more than 4.59 million internally displaced persons have been registered
• a significant portion of vulnerable groups consists of pensioners and people with disabilities

That is why the introduction of a food bank system is viewed as a key element of state policy in the area of food security.

What the memorandum provides for

The signed document provides for:

• the development of a network of food banks
• preparation of amendments to legislation
• the adoption of European practices for food utilization
• reduction of food losses
• expansion of food assistance to the population

According to Taras Vysotsky, the key idea lies in the rational use of resources and support for people.

What changes are planned in the legislation

The parties agreed to work on drafting legislative changes that will allow for the full launch of the food banking system in Ukraine.

Specifically, this involves:

• the creation of a special law on food banks
• establishing rules for the transfer of food
• tax incentives for businesses that donate food to charity
• restrictions on the disposal of edible food

It is expected that once the draft law has been finalized, it may be put up for discussion in the near future.

What impact could a food bank system have?

Experts note that the development of food banking will have several positive effects:

Social:

• More people will receive food assistance

Economic:

• businesses will reduce food disposal costs

Environmental:

• food waste will decrease
• The environmental impact will decrease

What is known about the Ukrainian Federation of Food Banks

The Ukrainian Federation of Food Banks is a charitable nonprofit organization established in 2022 with the support of the European Federation of Food Banks (FEBA).

The organization is engaged in:

• developing the food bank system
• advocating for legislative changes
• engaging businesses in charitable programs

The goal of the partnership with the Ministry of Economy is to create an effective food redistribution system and combat food waste.

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