September 29, 2024 (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) —The Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic (FLPC), The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN) and Foodbank Vietnam (FBVN) have identified key policies that can help Vietnam reduce levels of food loss and waste, protect the planet, and feed millions of people. The new research is the latest addition to The Global Food Donation Policy Atlas, which analyzes laws and policies affecting food donation in more than 25 countries around the world.

While Vietnam has made significant progress on hunger, five percent of the population is still undernourished and 8.8 million tons of food go to waste every year, the equivalent of 2% of GDP. Much of this food is safe to eat and highly nutritious and could be redirected to people facing hunger. Foodbank Vietnam is already active in working with farmers and rescuing surplus food before it goes to a landfill. But much remains to be done, not just for Vietnam but for the planet, as food loss and waste is responsible for up to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

The Vietnamese government has already taken important steps to address these issues with its National Action Plan on Food Systems Transformation Toward Transparency, Responsibility and Sustainability, but this new research outlines additional steps that can facilitate more food donation for those facing food insecurity and continue moving Vietnam towards its goal of Zero Hunger. Key policy recommendations in the research include:

• Enacting a “Good Samaritan” law for food donation, providing liability protection to food donors and food recovery organizations acting in good faith, similar to existing laws in the United States, Brazil, and Singapore.
• Implementing a standard, dual-date labeling system that clearly distinguishes between safety-based and quality-based dates and allows for donation after the quality-based date to ensure that date labels do not result in the disposal of food that is otherwise safe for consumption.
• Including food donation in the category of tax-deductible contributions and offering tax credits for food donation and other activities that reduce food loss and waste.
• Adopting a nationwide food waste deterrence policy that requires the donation of surplus food and/or imposes monetary penalties for food waste when it is still suitable for human consumption.
• Setting a national goal for reduction of food loss and waste and designating a lead government ministry to spearhead these efforts.

“So much safe, edible food goes to waste every single day. But systems can change to make sure healthy  surplus food gets to those in need rather than wasting away in a landfill where it emits methane and contributes to climate change,” said Emily Broad Leib, clinical professor of law at Harvard Law School and faculty director of the FLPC. “Our recommendations for Vietnam build on local successes and local innovation, and help establish a way forward for Vietnamese leaders to reduce food waste, boost food donation, feed people who are hungry, and curb environmental damage.”

“As is the case in most countries, today it is cheaper and easier in Vietnam to send wholesome food to a landfill than to donate it to those facing hunger. The good news is that the Vietnamese government has already been proactive in addressing food loss and waste and our policy recommendations can help them continue their impressive progress towards Zero Hunger,” said Lisa Moon, president and CEO of The Global FoodBanking Network. “Foodbank Vietnam has been a pioneering organization in food recovery and redistribution and has laid a great foundation for how the entire country can waste less food and feed more people.”

“We are honored and proud to introduce the Food Donation Atlas, an essential document developed through research by the Harvard Law School and FLPC in collaboration with The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN) and the Vietnam Food Bank Network. This atlas aims to raise awareness and guide the community in safe, practical, and sustainable food donations. We hope to create a positive impact, contribute to reducing food waste, and ensure timely, safe, and high-quality nutritional food supplies, especially in times of disaster and pandemic response”, said Nguyen Tuan Khoi, chairman of Food Bank Vietnam.

“Food Bank Vietnam is committed to continuously developing new initiatives to support communities and people in need, and this atlas is part of that mission. We hope that through the recommendations, every individual and organization will be equipped with the necessary knowledge to join hands in building a sustainable, sharing community where no one is left behind.”

The Global Food Donation Policy Atlas, supported by Walmart Foundation and the Lineage Foundation For Good, identifies existing laws and policies that support or hinder food recovery and donation and offers policy recommendations for strengthening frameworks and adopting new measures to fill existing gaps. The analyses featured in country-specific reports are also encapsulated in an interactive Atlas tool that allows users to compare policies between countries participating in the project.

Atlas project research is available for 25 countries on five continents plus the European Union. An interactive map, Legal Guides, Policy Recommendations, and Executive Summaries for each country are available at atlas.foodbanking.org.

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ABOUT THE HARVARD FOOD LAW AND POLICY CLINIC

The Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic (FLPC) serves partner organizations and communities by providing guidance on cutting-edge food system issues, while engaging law students in the practice of food law and policy. FLPC’s work focuses on increasing access to healthy foods, supporting sustainable production and regional food systems, promoting community-led food system change, and reducing waste of healthy, wholesome food. FLPC is committed to advancing a cross-sector, multi-disciplinary and inclusive approach to its work, building partnerships with academic institutions, government agencies, private sector actors, and civil society with expertise in public health, the environment, and the economy. For more information, visit chlpi.org/food-law-and-policy.

ABOUT THE GLOBAL FOODBANKING NETWORK
Food banking offers a solution to both chronic hunger and the climate crisis. GFN works with partners in over 50 countries to recover and redirect food to those who need it. In 2023, our Network provided food to more than 40 million people, reducing food waste and creating healthy, resilient communities. We help the food system function as it should: nourishing people and the planet together. Learn more at foodbanking.org.

ABOUT FOODBANK VIETNAM

With positive strides in development and network expansion, Food Bank Vietnam currently plays a pivotal role as an organization with the mission of promoting sustainability within the agricultural and food value chain, focusing on people and communities to ensure nutrition and prevent food waste. Additionally, Food Bank Vietnam encourages the “greening” direction in its operational models and project systems, leveraging technology and enhancing domestic and international collaboration to combat sustainable food loss and enhance food equity in Vietnam.

Food Bank Vietnam’s network operates through diverse models tailored to the strengths of each locality, such as the Red Cross, Agricultural Cooperative Alliances, Associations for the Protection of Children and the Poor, and community social organizations. As of September 2024, Food Bank Vietnam has approached 46 provinces and cities nationwide and expanded to 22 Food Warehouses and Community Foodbank Clubs under its network. Learn more at foodbankvietnam.com.