junho, 16 2026
By Brazil Without Waste
How can food systems be transformed to generate greater social, economic, and environmental impact while wasting less food? This was one of the central questions that brought together hundreds of representatives from governments, businesses, civil society organizations, universities, and research centers during the ReFED Food Waste Solutions Summit 2026, held in May in the United States.
Widely recognized as one of the world's leading events dedicated to preventing food loss and waste, the Summit convened leaders from across the globe to exchange experiences, discuss emerging trends, and present solutions capable of accelerating the global target of cutting food waste in half by 2030.
Representing the Brazil Without Waste (Brasil Sem Desperdício) program, Luiza Soares and Alcione Pereira, from Connecting Food Brasil, participated in a panel to present the progress being made in Brazil and discuss the country's potential to contribute to the transformation of global food systems.
"Brazil is home to the world's greatest biodiversity and is also one of the largest producers and exporters of food. Yet, part of our population still experiences different levels of food insecurity. Tackling food waste is therefore essential not only to fight hunger but also to preserve our biomes," said Luiza.
There is no single solution to food waste
One of the Summit's main takeaways was the broad consensus that there is no single solution to food waste. ReFED President Dana Gunders emphasized that addressing the challenge requires a combination of multiple initiatives working simultaneously across different stages of the food system.
This perspective aligns closely with the approach of Brazil Without Waste, which seeks to foster a collaborative environment among businesses, governments, civil society organizations, and academia to accelerate concrete actions aimed at preventing and reducing food loss and waste.
For the program, international events such as this provide a valuable opportunity to understand what is already working in other countries and reflect on how those experiences can be adapted to Brazil's reality. After all, solutions developed for one context must be localized to respond effectively to the social, economic, and cultural characteristics of each region.
Another recurring theme throughout the Summit was the importance of cultural change. Several experts noted that food waste is still widely regarded as normal behavior in many societies. As a result, a growing movement across different countries is working to reposition food waste as a socially unacceptable practice, much like what has happened over the years with issues such as littering or wasting water.
In this context, communication plays a strategic role. The experiences shared at the Summit showed that campaigns focused solely on providing information tend to have limited impact. To create lasting behavioral change, it is necessary to connect the issue to people's everyday lives by linking it to practical concerns, household habits, family budgets, and cultural values.
Food education also emerged as a key tool for transforming behavior. Discussions on making full use of food, meal planning, proper food storage, and valuing food demonstrated how small changes can generate significant impacts when adopted on a large scale.
Artificial Intelligence gains ground in the fight against food waste
Technology was another major highlight of the Summit. Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used as an ally in reducing food waste, particularly in retail, restaurants, and food service operations. AI-powered tools are already helping organizations forecast demand more accurately, optimize inventory, identify patterns of food loss, and support operational decision-making in real time.
In practice, this means reducing planning errors, avoiding over-purchasing, and identifying critical points where food is being lost throughout the supply chain. Although challenges remain to expand the adoption of these technologies, the results presented at the Summit demonstrate their growing potential to transform how companies and institutions manage their resources.
For Luiza Soares, participating in the Summit was also an opportunity to demonstrate that Brazil has much to contribute to the global agenda.
"Our participation in the Summit gave us a great opportunity to exchange ideas with leading experts working on this challenge around the world. We represented Brazil and showcased the progress we have achieved collectively, our national strategies, and the country's potential to become a leader in transforming food systems. We returned home committed to tropicalizing the solutions discussed during the event," she said.
The Summit also reinforced the importance of expanding Brazil's presence in international forums where strategies for the future of food systems are being shaped. As one of the world's largest agricultural producers, with extraordinary biological diversity and a growing capacity to foster collaboration across sectors, Brazil is uniquely positioned to lead innovative initiatives to reduce food loss and waste.
More than simply bringing international references back home, participation in the ReFED Food Waste Solutions Summit strengthens Brazil Without Waste 's commitment to developing solutions grounded in evidence, collaboration, and innovation. It is an effort that recognizes reducing food waste as a strategic agenda for climate action, economic development, biodiversity conservation, and building a future with greater food security for everyone.
