The Regional Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries, and the Environment presided over the International Food Loss and Waste Awareness Day opening session, organized by the Madeira Food Bank, at the Madeira Shopping Center in Funchal.
Rafaela Fernandes took the opportunity to praise the Food Bank’s initiative, highlighting “the networking that this institution establishes with the different services of the Regional Government to reduce food waste.”

On this subject, the regional secretary shared the three significant challenges facing communities. Firstly, she believes that “the fight against food waste requires a commitment from everyone.” “Networking is critical, from private associative initiatives to business initiatives and those carried out by public services,” she said, highlighting in this regard ‘the importance of the work carried out in schools with the younger generations.
He then pointed out that “the fight against food waste depends on the effective management of available resources”. “We shouldn’t produce more than we need. There really is no Planet B. We have to work towards good resource management. Whether it’s water or available land with agricultural potential,” she said.
Finally, she referred to the environmental targets, particularly those related to reducing the production of waste and bio-waste, “which poses many challenges, particularly for the business sector.”

Erica Franco is a journalist for Diário de Notícias da Madeira.

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno, PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.