Shanghai Puxi’s tallest building illuminated to mark World Food Day.

Shanghai Puxi’s tallest building illuminated to mark World Food Day.

Shanghai, China, October 16, 2023 – In recognition of World Food Day 2023, Messe Düsseldorf (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. joined efforts with Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) China Office with a series of initiatives under the SAVE FOOD campaign. Designed to encourage proactive contributions towards the reduction of food loss and waste, the campaign was inaugurated with a spectacular light show at the 320-meter-tall Sinar Mas Plaza, Puxi’s tallest building. Expanding upon the initial impact, the campaign will continue to foster innovative solutions through the upcoming SAVE FOOD China Forum 2023 in November.

The light show is also part of the World Food Day Pro Bono Lighting Campaign in China. “Protecting water resources and safeguarding food security requires the joint efforts of the whole society. I appreciate all the participants in the World Food Day Pro Bono Lighting Campaign in China. You have made more people aware of the World Food Day, made everyone better understand the importance of food security, and made positive contributions to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals,” said Sheikh Ahaduzzaman, the FAO Representative ad interim in China.

SAVE FOOD is an initiative jointly founded by FAO, UN Environment Programme (UNEP), Messe Düsseldorf, and interpack, the leading trade fair for processing and packaging, held in Düsseldorf, Germany. Its goal is to combat global food loss and waste by fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and stimulating discussions. With a focus on creating actionable solutions that span the entire value chain – from field to fork – SAVE FOOD seeks to make a tangible impact on global food loss and waste.

The study shows that 27% of food annually produced for human consumption in the country is lost or wasted; 45% of this is associated with postharvest handling and storage and 13% with out-of-home consumption activities.  As a subsidiary of Messe Düsseldorf, Messe Düsseldorf Shanghai has been actively advancing SAVE FOOD Initiatives within China, from raising public awareness to offering a platform for discourse and engagement on actionable steps. To combat this, swop (Shanghai World of Packaging), as one of trade fairs organized by Messe Düsseldorf Shanghai and member of the interpack alliance, significantly bolstered the SAVE FOOD initiative in China since 2017 and generated huge interest from the industry. The SAVE FOOD Initiative was reintroduced in China as a special theme at swop 2019, where it focused on innovative applications of food packaging to extend shelf life. This year at swop, the highly anticipated concurrent events will provide solutions not only for the processing and packaging sectors but also for the entire value chain of the industry such as food, beverage, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, bakery, industrial goods, etc. The SAVE FOOD Initiative will once again be a featured component of swop 2023, offering a specialized forum to present public solutions for reducing food loss and waste through advanced processing and packaging technologies, as well as innovative packaging materials and processing methods. It has also attracted many socially responsible suppliers with innovative skills in the packaging industry who will share insights on packaging design and green packaging at swop 2023.

For the kickoff of the SAVE FOOD 2023 campaign series, Sinar Mas Plaza was bathed in blue light to highlight this year’s resonant theme of World Food Day: Water Is Life. Water Is Food. Leave No One Behind. Mr. Marius Berlemann, General Manager of Messe Düsseldorf (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., remarked: “We are excited to collaborate with FAO in China to elevate the SAVE FOOD Initiative on occasion of World Food Day. Messe Düsseldorf Shanghai is committed to making contributions to the reduction of food loss and waste. With more leading enterprises joining the SAVE FOOD initiatives, we eagerly anticipate fruitful discussions and impactful projects to emerge during swop 2023.”

The SAVE FOOD Initiative has developed very well over the past 12 years, with participation from over 1,000 leading enterprises, organizations and research institutes dedicated to combating food loss and waste. On Nov.23^rd, 2023, the second day of swop, Messe Düsseldorf Shanghai will cooperate with FAO China Office to hold the SAVE FOOD Forum in Shanghai, as part of the SAVE FOOD Initiative in China. Representatives from government agencies, research institutions, processing and packaging industries along with their supply chain will convene for the SAVE FOOD Forum to discuss innovative strategies for saving food through effective packaging solutions.

As part of its efforts to make SAVE FOOD more accessible to all, every year, all exhibitors at interpack alliance trade fairs are invited to join forces by applying to the SAVE FOOD DESIGN AWARD or SUSTAINABILITY DESIGN AWARD. Winning companies will earn the opportunity to showcase visibility during the respective interpack alliance trade fair.

Mr. Thomas Dohse, Director interpack, stated: “Our unique contribution lies in our international network and our commitment to fostering innovation while calling attention to global issues. The topic of packaging is of central importance in relation to SAVE FOOD, which is an important part of Messe Düsseldorf’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with a focus on the environment and the society. As the leading international trade fair for processing and packaging, interpack plays a decisive role in advancing the SAVE FOOD initiative, which has been actively combating global food loss and waste since 2011.”

swop (Shanghai World of Packaging) 2023 is scheduled to take place from 22 to 24 November at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC). Running concurrently with the event, the SAVE FOOD forum will be held on Nov.23^rd, 2023, and the winners of the awards will be announced by then.

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Press Contact:

Ms. Coco Ying

Messe Düsseldorf (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

Tel: +86-21-6169 8364

coco.ying@mds.cn

About Messe Düsseldorf (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

Established in 2009, Messe Düsseldorf (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (MDS) is a subsidiary of Messe Düsseldorf GmbH, one of the world’s top exhibition organizers. MDS is committed to introducing industry leading trade fairs to China and providing Chinese and international customers with superior exhibition services. MDS is successfully holding 14 leading trade fairs and conferences in China, covering a broad range of industries including printing, packaging, wire and tube, plastics, medical devices, rehabilitation, retail, occupational safety and health, wine & spirits and caravanning. With a workforce of 60+ fulltime employees, the company’s head office is located in Shanghai with a branch office in Beijing. For more information about MDS, please visit www.mds.cn.