The last Permanent Household Survey A survey conducted by INDEC showed that 11,9% of Argentinians live in extreme poverty. This means that just over 3,5 million people cannot meet their basic food needs. In this context, the recent controversy within the government regarding food stockpiling has heightened the tension surrounding an uncomfortable question: is it conceivable to go hungry in the breadbasket of the world?

Last year, the ONU It revealed that globally more than 30% of food is thrown away between harvest and households, and according to reports from the FAOIn our country, 12,5% ​​of food is lost before reaching supermarket shelves. This means that annually, each Argentinian wastes 362 kg of food, a total of 16 million tons. In the midst of an emergency, it is no surprise that this situation is outrageous. To offer solutions to this problem, the Legal Clinic for Health Law of the Universidad Austral has been investigating potential impact projects with a social focus.

In Argentina, food waste is regulated, in general terms, by two laws: 25.989 and 27.454. While the former establishes a special liability regime for food donors, the latter implements the "National Food Loss Reduction Plan" and creates a Registry where all institutions responsible for receiving and distributing supplies must register. Together, both laws aim to facilitate the donation process and guarantee the quality and safety of the products.

“We were able to meet with authorities from the former National Secretariat of Bioeconomy to express our genuine concern and our intention to develop a better proposal. The meeting was very positive. After a very friendly and professional conversation, we came away with several ideas to work on with the team,” explains Federico Menéndez, professor in charge of the Health Law Clinic at the Universidad Austral.

“After the meeting, having analyzed and discussed various reports, we realized that it was possible to promote several projects. There are good examples in other countries. For instance: tax incentives, dual labeling policies, simplification of the system, healthy stations, etc. There are regulations that address the issue, and it would be important for more people to be aware of them, also because it is an environmental issue,” says Eliana Paredes, a fourth-year law student and member of the Clinic.

“We were asked to each work on a project: for example, I researched labeling policies to improve traceability of food products. The work was fantastic. We spoke with supermarket chains, food banks, and third-sector organizations to present our proposals and get their feedback. Then we presented the project and strategy to the team to assess its feasibility. It was very challenging,” says Victoria Ricci, a team member.

One of the key issues the Clinic members suggest reviewing is the Registry of Public Benefit Institutions Receiving Food. “It’s not just the misinformation about registered institutions. The problem is bigger: it’s unclear whether the benefits granted by the Food Donation Law apply only to those who donate food to these institutions or to all donors. We think this contributes to those who know about the registry not donating for fear of future liability cases,” says Valentín Bueri (another member of the Clinic).

Beyond the official presentation scheduled for the coming days, the need to promote a cultural shift regarding food waste is clear. As Professor Menendez states, “We certainly won’t solve hunger in Argentina, but we can contribute our part with proposals, and most importantly, avoid becoming indifferent to the suffering of others.”