Food Tank’s Weekly News Roundup: Australia Cracks Down on Food Waste, COP31 Pushes Clean Energy, Ag Co-Ops Offer Hope

Why It Matters

These initiatives tackle systemic inefficiencies in food systems, unlocking investment, cutting emissions, and strengthening supply‑chain resilience—key drivers for global food security and climate objectives.

Key Takeaways

• Africa’s agri‑public spending hit $16 bn in 2022
• Private finance in African agriculture remains critically low
• COP31‑IEA pact targets clean cooking for 2.3 bn people
• NSW law forces venues to separate food waste by 2024
• UK agri‑co‑ops could boost food security amid input price spikes

Pulse Analysis

Africa’s agrifood sector is finally attracting more public dollars, with government outlays climbing to $16 billion in 2022. Despite this upward trend, private credit and foreign direct investment remain far below potential, hampering efforts to meet hunger‑reduction targets. Policymakers are urged to de‑risk projects through public‑private partnerships and to channel the recent 50% surge in climate finance toward resilient food‑system solutions, especially those that empower women and youth.

The COP31 presidency’s new partnership with the International Energy Agency signals a strategic push to address the world’s biggest energy crisis. By prioritizing clean‑cooking technologies for the 2.3 billion people still reliant on polluting fuels, the alliance aims to slash greenhouse‑gas emissions while improving public health. IEA‑led research on waste‑recycling impacts will further inform Turkey’s agenda on cutting emissions from landfill, reinforcing the link between energy transition and circular‑economy goals.

Australia’s state‑level food‑waste regulations illustrate how policy can drive circular‑economy adoption. New South Wales will require venues to separate food waste from 2024, a move that, combined with grants, encourages businesses to divert organics from landfills. Parallel efforts in Victoria, ACT, and Queensland broaden the impact. Meanwhile, a UK policy paper spotlights agricultural cooperatives as a resilient model against volatile input prices, suggesting that scaling co‑ops could bolster food security across markets facing climate and geopolitical shocks.