Recently, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council issued the "Action Plan for Food Conservation and Anti-Food Waste" (hereinafter referred to as the "Action Plan"). Relevant officials from the National Development and Reform Commission accepted interviews regarding the "Action Plan" and answered reporters' questions.

Officials from the National Development and Reform Commission introduced that the "Action Plan" emphasizes the awareness that increasing production must be accompanied by conservation, and that conservation is equivalent to increasing production. It insists on long-term efforts, continuous attention, and focuses on key areas and critical links to effectively reduce food and food waste. The "Action Plan" specifies phased goals, proposing that by 2027, the long-term mechanism for food and food conservation will be more sound, the statistical investigation system, standards, and indicator system for food loss and waste will be continuously improved, the loss rate in food production, storage, transportation, and processing will be controlled below the international average level, and the per capita food waste in the catering industry, government canteens, school canteens, and corporate canteens will significantly decrease, effectively curbing food waste. At the same time, through continuous efforts and public participation, it aims to promote a culture of food conservation and opposition to waste throughout society.

Officials from the National Development and Reform Commission pointed out that the "Action Plan" adheres to a problem-oriented approach, focusing on the bottlenecks and difficulties of food loss and waste, proposing targeted measures at different levels and stages, and deploying key tasks such as food conservation and loss reduction actions, public awareness enhancement actions, anti-waste actions in the catering industry, anti-waste actions in unit canteens, and strengthening statistical investigations on losses and waste.

In the food conservation and loss reduction actions, clear deployments are made for the entire chain of food conservation and loss reduction, strengthening the reduction of losses during food mechanized harvesting, reducing storage losses, enhancing transportation loss reduction, and minimizing processing losses.

In the public awareness enhancement actions for food conservation, deployments are made around families, regulations, and education, promoting the reduction of food waste at home and by individuals, strengthening guidance and regulations, and enhancing education for young people and the establishment of a frugal family ethos.

In the anti-waste actions in the catering industry, deployments are made regarding industry guidance, constraints, and self-discipline, deepening the "Clean Plate Campaign" and promoting industry self-regulation.

In the anti-waste actions in unit canteens, specific requirements are proposed for government canteens, school canteens, and corporate canteens. In strengthening statistical investigations on losses and waste, a sound statistical investigation system is established, and special statistical investigations are conducted by sector.

Officials from the National Development and Reform Commission stated that to promote the implementation of key tasks, the "Action Plan" proposes three guarantee measures.

First, strengthen organizational implementation. Adhere to the principle of shared responsibility between the party and government, and ensure accountability. The National Development and Reform Commission and the Central Agricultural Office will strengthen the organization and coordination of food conservation and anti-food waste work, while relevant departments will integrate their responsibilities, implement comprehensive policies, and form a joint effort.

Second, increase publicity efforts. Use lively, novel, and diverse forms of publicity that are popular with the public, produce and broadcast relevant public welfare programs, and strengthen public opinion supervision.

Third, strengthen international cooperation. Successfully hold the International Food Loss Reduction Conference, encourage cooperation and exchange, and share China's solutions and actions for food conservation and anti-food waste with the international community.

In the next step, the National Development and Reform Commission will work with relevant departments to earnestly implement the decisions and deployments of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council, coordinate key work arrangements, refine and decompose target tasks, integrate them into daily operations, and ensure the comprehensive implementation of the "Action Plan," continuously achieving new results in food conservation and anti-food waste work.