FoodForward SA has reached a significant milestone in its mission to address food insecurity and reduce food waste – its Methane Sequestration through Innovative Food Waste and Food Loss Management project has been officially approved and endorsed by The Presidency’s Just Energy Transition (JET) Funding Platform. This recognition confirms the project’s alignment with South Africa’s national climate goals, positioning FoodForward SA to access climate funding and partnerships that drive large-scale impact across both food security and climate resilience.

At its core, this tackles two of the world’s most pressing challenges: food insecurity and climate change. Every year, approximately 1.3 billion tons of food are wasted globally, generating methane, a greenhouse gas 28 times more potent than CO₂. Meanwhile, 757 million people face chronic hunger, and 2.3 billion lack regular access to nutritious food. FoodForward SA’s model directly links these challenges: by timeously recovering surplus food before it becomes waste, the organisation not only feeds vulnerable communities but also prevents methane emissions at their source.

Through its methane sequestration initiative, FoodForward SA applies a globally recognised framework developed by The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN) in partnership with Carbon Trust, the Global Methane Hub, known as FRAME (Food Recovery to Avoid Methane Emissions), this methodology, approved by Gold Standard, quantifies avoided greenhouse gas emissions and measures co-benefits across multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12), and Climate Action (SDG 13).

Early findings from international adopters of the FRAME methodology show that food redistribution is among the most environmentally effective ways to prevent food loss and waste. By incorporating this science-based approach, FoodForward SA can translate its operations into measurable climate action – turning each ton of recovered food into tangible carbon savings and social value.

The Methane Project Data Dashboard illustrates this chain of impact vividly: every kilogram of surplus food recovered avoids methane emissions, reduces landfill pressure, and provides nutritious meals to South Africans in need. The model is also deeply collaborative – engaging corporate partners to strengthen their ESG and Scope 3 emissions reporting, while advancing national and global net-zero commitments.

Importantly, inclusion on the JET Funding Platform’s Project Register signals that FoodForward SA’s work is now part of South Africa’s broader Just Energy Transition – ensuring that climate action is not only about decarbonisation but also about social inclusion and equity. The Presidency’s endorsement underscores that preventing food waste and hunger is a legitimate, high-impact climate solution.

As South Africa works to build a low-carbon, resilient economy, FoodForward SA is showing that innovation in food systems can deliver both environmental and human dividends. By transforming surplus into sustenance and methane into measurable mitigation, FoodForward SA continues to prove that tackling hunger and climate change together is not just possible, it’s essential for a just, sustainable future.