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A common methodology to quantify food loss at primary production: the publication of a CEN Workshop Agreement

28/07/2026

The publication of CWA 18410:2026 Methodology for the Quantification of Food Loss in Primary Production marks an important step towards the harmonisation of food-loss quantification at primary production level. Developed under the framework of the FOLOU project, this document provides a common methodology to support the measurement of food losses across different sectors of primary production.

The CWA (CEN Workshop Agreement) is the outcome of a collaborative process that formally began on 12 December 2026 with the first meeting of the CEN (European Committee for Standardization) Workshop. Over the course of the Workshop, experts and stakeholders from different backgrounds worked together to develop a standardised approach capable of improving the consistency, comparability and reliability of food-loss measurement in the primary sector.

Why introduce this initiative at primary production level?

Preventing food loss has attracted increasing attention due to the need to improve food availability for all, reduce the environmental impacts of primary production, increase resource efficiency, and strengthen food system resilience. However, differences in the definitions of food loss used in EU legislation and by international organisations such as FAO, UNEP and ISO, among other factors, have resulted in underreporting and inconsistent measurement practices.

This CWA synthesises the methodology developed by the FOLOU project into a standardised document, building on empirical evidence gathered through case studies in agriculture, livestock production and aquaculture. The CWA seeks to:

• Establish a harmonised definitional framework for quantifying food losses at the primary production stage.
• Provide a practical methodology to support data collection, classification and extrapolation from plot, farm or production-site level to wider territorial scales.
• Support EU action to prevent food loss through a pragmatic, flexible and scalable approach.

How can this CWA be used?

The CWA addresses food-loss quantification as a complete process, covering all the stages required to obtain robust and comparable results. It is intended for all stakeholders involved in food production, including farmers, farmers’ organisations, industries and distributors, public authorities at all levels, researchers, civil society organisations and others.

The quantification process begins with measurement planning, which includes defining the scope of the assessment -that is, identifying which sites and activities will be measured- and designing the sampling strategy to determine which parts of the plot, farm or production site should be sampled in order to obtain representative results.

Following the planning phase, food loss, as defined in the CWA, is directly measured according to the requirements established for each commodity group: vegetables and fruits, cereals and pulses, roots and tubers, meat and dairy products, and aquaculture products.

Finally, the results obtained from individual samples are extrapolated to larger scales. In particular, the methodology enables the estimation of food losses for an entire plot, farm or production site and, where defined by the promoter of the assessment, a wider territory.

Through this stepwise approach, the CWA provides a practical framework that can be adapted to different production systems and geographical contexts while ensuring consistency in data collection and documentation.

Looking ahead

The ultimate objective of the CWA is to provide stakeholders involved in primary production with a common methodology for quantifying food losses at different scales, whether in a single plot, across an entire production site or throughout a broader territory, and for one or several food commodity groups.

In addition to supporting practitioners and researchers, the document is expected to serve as a reference methodology for European, national and regional regulations. By promoting the adoption of harmonised quantification approaches, the CWA can contribute to the development of more coherent and effective policies aimed at preventing and reducing food loss in primary production.

As the transition towards more sustainable food systems accelerates, establishing common measurement practices will be essential to ensure that policy decisions and interventions are grounded in reliable and comparable evidence.

Acknowledgements

The development of the CWA would not have been possible without the active participation and commitment of all members of the CEN Workshop, as well as the partners of the FOLOU project. Their expertise and collaboration have been key to shape this consensus-based reference document.