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SWIFT PLATE
FOOD RESCUE
Food rescue tackles linked crises of waste, hunger, and climate change by diverting surplus food—from farms and businesses—away from methane-emitting landfills to communities in need, turning environmental harm into social good.
Wasted Opportunity
Wasted Opportunity is Second Harvest’s third report in a series that began with The Avoidable Crisis of Food Waste (2019), a roadmap showing how almost nine million metric tonnes of food produced for Canadians is lost or wasted every year.
The second report, Canada’s Invisible Food Network (2021), was the first report to reveal the massive, invisible patchwork of over 61,000 community organizations that distribute food to people in need.
Food Waste
Rescuing surplus food prevents edible items from being wasted in landfills, where they decompose and emit methane, a potent greenhouse gas. This addresses inefficiencies in food distribution and resource loss (e.g., water, energy, labor used in production).
Climate
Diverting food waste reduces methane emissions from landfills and lessens the carbon footprint of food production. It also conserves resources (land, water, fuel) wasted in growing, transporting, and disposing of uneaten food.
Hunger
Redirecting rescued food to communities in need tackles food insecurity by providing nutritious meals to vulnerable populations. It bridges the gap between surplus and scarcity, ensuring food reaches people instead of being discarded.
Impact
Collectively, food rescue creates a sustainable cycle—reducing environmental harm, alleviating hunger, and fostering community resilience. It demonstrates how systemic action can address interconnected social, economic, and ecological challenges.