This month, Leket Israel will publish its 10th Annual Food Waste and Food Rescue Report. For those unfamiliar with this publication, it is a comprehensive national report that analyses the scale and impact of food waste across Israel. The report is independently prepared by BDO, an international consulting firm, and while it focuses on national data, it does not specifically address Leket Israel’s operations.

Ten years ago, I attended a State Comptroller Committee meeting in the Knesset, chaired by the remarkable and knowledgeable MK Karin Elharar. During the roundtable discussion, it became clear to her that Israel lacked any quantitative data or analysis on food waste. At that meeting, I publicly committed that Leket Israel would take on the task of producing such a report. My announcement raised quite a few eyebrows, but MK Elharar was highly supportive of both me and Leket Israel.

The following year, our first report was published. The initial reaction- especially from government ministries- was dismissive, even mocking, as the findings revealed a significant and previously unacknowledged national issue. The data showed that 1.6 million tons of food, worth NIS 19.3 billion, were being discarded annually. I still remember receiving a phone call from a senior official in the Ministry of Agriculture who personally criticized both the report and me for releasing it. Those were difficult days.

In hindsight, I understand why the report was controversial- it exposed a systemic problem. When something new and uncomfortable emerges, people tend to avoid association with it. But with perseverance and conviction in our mission, we continued to publish the report year after year. Eventually, even the Ministry of Agriculture could no longer ignore the findings. They came to recognize the credibility and value of the data, becoming informal partners in the process. A few years later, the Ministry of Environmental Protection joined as an official partner, acknowledging that while the issue could not be solved overnight, the data provided a foundation for meaningful progress and alignment with global efforts to assess the environmental impact of food waste.

Later, the Ministry of Health also recognized the report’s significance- this time through the lens of nutrition and food insecurity. They viewed it as a critical tool in highlighting how wasted food could have been used to reduce malnutrition and hunger, as well as the broader economic implications of food insecurity in Israel.

Today, the report is widely recognized and frequently cited. Most recently, in September 2025, the Ministries of Environmental Protection and Agriculture jointly released a proposed national plan for food security. While not yet adopted as official government policy, the section addressing food waste and recovery is based directly on data and insights from Leket Israel’s Food Waste and Food Rescue Report. Our research is cited throughout the plan, and we were active participants in the informal committee that shaped its recommendations. Anyone familiar with Leket Israel’s operations will immediately recognize the strong alignment between the proposed plan and our ongoing work.

Our report is now regularly referenced in academic research, conferences, and policy discussions across fields ranging from economics and public health to environmental studies, recently even quoted in a UN report.

A few years ago, the report also helped strengthen our international collaborations. It cemented our partnership with Harvard University’s Food Law and Policy Clinic and became part of a joint global initiative – the Atlas Report, published by Harvard University in cooperation with the Global Food Banking Network (GFN). This collaboration placed Israel’s data and experience within an international context, positioning Leket Israel as a contributor to global thought leadership on food waste and rescue.

Finally, I want to extend heartfelt appreciation to Leket Israel’s Board of Directors, whose foresight and guidance years ago set us on the path to becoming Israel’s leading authority on food waste. We made it happen.

A second, equally important acknowledgment goes to all Leket Israel employees who contributed to this achievement- whether by proving the concept, supporting operations, or championing the cause. And special recognition goes Leket Israel management team and to Ravit Dinmez Yechezkel, our VP of Legal & Corporate Affairs, whose persistence and ability to build trust within government circles were instrumental in turning this vision into reality.

Tune in later this month to read and hear all about our 10th annual report!