Ensuring no-one goes hungry on World Food Day

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), nearly 690 million people are hungry, and the COVID-19 pandemic could potentially add a further 83-132 million people. What's more, around 14% of food produced is lost each year between farm to market. Yet much can be done to reduce these numbers and improve food distribution worldwide.

There is over 1 600 standards for the food production sector designed to create confidence in food products, improve agricultural methods and promote sustainable and ethical purchasing. They also cover a number of other areas including nutritional and safety testing, quality, packaging, and traceability.

As we celebrate World Food Day, here are some standards to help.

Empowering smallhold farmers

Family farmers manage some 75 percent of the world's agricultural land and produce a whopping 80 percent of the world's food, meaning we need to look after them and ensure they have fair conditions and a fair price.

The ISO 34101 series of standards for sustainable and traceable cocoa beans is one example that can help. It provides a set of guidelines for environmentally sound agricultural practices, the enhanced traceability of cocoa beans and for improving the social conditions and livelihoods of farmers and all those involved in the cocoa supply chain.

In addition, the International Workshop Agreement IWA 29, Professional farmer organization – Guidelines, aims to build the professionalism of smallholder farmer organizations in emerging markets, enabling them to enter the global marketplace.

Safety all the way

Keeping food safe at every step from farm to fork is essential to reduce hunger, illness and poverty. The ISO 22000 family of standards addresses food safety management by providing guidelines and best practice for managing risks in all areas of food production.

Within its broad scope, the ISO 22000 family includes standards specific to catering, food manufacturing, farming, packaging, and animal foodstuffs and feed production.

Have a heart

With standards for individual foodstuffs like ISO 20980, Artichokes — Specification and test methods, the quality and safety of food grown and traded around the world is assured. By providing specifications and test methods related to their appearance, quality, safe storage, packaging and transport, they make trade and traceability easier, improving conditions and business for everyone. They also help to encourage the entry of new crops and foodstuffs on the market, by providing procedures and recommendations that everyone can understand.

ISO has hundreds of such standards, including those for fruits, vegetables, cereals, grains, meat, dairy products and more.

Safely stored

Poor storage of foodstuffs can generate significant losses, of both the quality and the quantity, thus contributing to hunger and placing increased pressure on producers.

ISO 6322, Storage of cereals and pulses is just one example of many ISO food-storage standards that provides the technical guidelines for correct and safe storage, thus preventing post-harvest loss and improving the quality at the same time.

Improving social conditions for agricultural workers

ISO 26000 for social responsibility and ISO 20400 for sustainable procurement encourage socially responsible behaviour and ethical working conditions for agricultural workers and promote ethical purchasing practices throughout the entire food production chain.

What's more, ISO/TS 26030 – a food-sector application of ISO 26000 – will also play a significant role in contributing to zero hunger and better nutrition worldwide.

All these standards, and more, can be purchased through our e-shop.