Matteo Marchisio (right), International Fund for Agricultural Development Representative in China, is interviewed by China Daily at the International Conference on Food Loss and Waste on Sept 10. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

The conference on food loss and waste is precisely the window for Jinan to open up to the world, said Matteo Marchisio, International Fund for Agricultural Development Representative in China, during an exclusive interview with China Daily at the International Conference on Food Loss and Waste in Jinan, East China's Shandong province, on Sept 10.

"Food loss and waste are becoming global problems. China is not exempt from this problem, and any success in reducing food loss domestically will have a global impact," Marchisio added.

The International Conference on Food Loss and Waste, which started on Sept 9, provided a platform for countries to share their experiences in food loss and waste, and discuss global concerns.

Marchisio noted the most ambitious agenda is reducing food waste at consumption, because this doesn't entail much technological innovation, but changes in behaviors.

"The clean plate campaign that was launched last year in China is a very interesting and promising initiative that is meant precisely to change the behavior and the culture of people," he said.

Shandong province is highly agricultural productive areas, which makes the region the right place to promote food security to the world, he added.