$36.6 billion a year wasted: Food waste drains 1.4% of Australia’s GDP and weakens food security

Australia is losing an estimated $36.6 billion every year to food waste – around 1.4 per cent of GDP – effectively erasing more than half the value generated by agriculture and undermining national food security. 

End Food Waste Australia (EFWA) has today lodged a Pre-Budget submission calling for targeted Commonwealth investment of $5.7 million over four years to rebuild and maintain Australia’s national food waste measurement and reporting capability, warning that food waste sits at the centre of Australia’s ability to deliver a resilient, affordable and secure food system. 

Australia’s most recent national food waste data was published in 2021 and is based on 2019 figures. Since then cost-of-living pressures, climate impacts, supply-chain disruptions and consumption patterns have shifted significantly, increasing risks to food availability, affordability and reliability. 

“Food security is not just about producing more food, it’s about not wasting what we already produce,” said EFWA CEO, Tristan Butt. 

“When more than a third of food produced is wasted somewhere along the supply chain, that is food security capacity being lost alongside water, energy, labour and income for farmers.” 

EFWA warns that without a current national food waste baseline, food security policy - including the Feeding Australia: National Food Security Strategy - risks being developed and implemented without a clear picture of where food is being lost, why, and at what cost. 

EFWA’s proposed four-year, low-cost, high-impact program would provide the evidence base needed to embed food waste reduction into food security planning, budget decisions and policy evaluation across government. 

The program would deliver: 

• an authoritative national food waste measurement report, updated regularly 
• a nationally consistent, transparent measurement framework, with public methodologies and independent, multi-sector governance; and 
• reporting aligned with Budget and MYEFO cycles, ensuring food waste reduction is factored into food security, productivity, cost-of-living and emissions policy. 

“Every tonne of food wasted is a tonne not available to households, regional communities or emergency food relief,” said Mr Butt. 

“Reducing food waste is one of the fastest, lowest-cost ways to future-proof Australia’s food system while easing pressure on farmers, supply chains and consumers.” 

EFWA notes that accurate, up-to-date measurement is essential to target investment where it delivers the greatest return - improving supply-chain efficiency, supporting farmers, lowering costs, and increasing resilience to climate and market shocks. 

EFWA has committed to contributing up to 45 per cent of the program’s total value through in-kind support, building on prior Commonwealth investment and existing cross-sector partnerships. 

The submission has been provided to the Treasurer, Finance Minister, and relevant portfolio ministers ahead of the 2026–27 Budget. 

**ENDS**

Media Contact
Corporate Communications
End Food Waste Australia
Email: communication@endfoodwaste.com.au