A poco que planifiquemos, reduciremos el desperdicio alimentario.

A poco que is an idiomatic expression meaning something like:

• if we do even a little...
• with just a little...
• as long as we ... even slightly

So A poco que planifiquemos means if we plan even a little or with just a bit of planning.

It does not mean soon or a little while after here. It is a fixed expression used to say that a small amount of effort is enough to produce a result.

Because a poco que normally introduces a clause that expresses a condition or a minimum requirement, and Spanish typically uses the subjunctive after it.

So:

• A poco que planifiquemos... = If we plan even a little...

The planning is presented as a condition, not as a simple fact. That is why Spanish uses planifiquemos rather than planificamos here.

Reduciremos is the future tense of reducir: we will reduce.

The sentence has this pattern:

• condition: A poco que planifiquemos
• result: reduciremos el desperdicio alimentario

So the meaning is: if that condition is met, the result will happen.

Spanish often uses this structure for predictions or likely consequences:

• Si estudiamos, aprobaremos
• A poco que planifiquemos, reduciremos...

You could sometimes hear the present instead in everyday speech, but the future here sounds very natural and clear.

Yes. Si planificamos un poco, reduciremos el desperdicio alimentario is perfectly understandable and more straightforward for a learner.

The difference is mainly in tone:

• si planificamos un poco = plain and direct
• a poco que planifiquemos = more idiomatic, slightly more elegant or formal, and it emphasizes that even a small amount of planning is enough

So the original sentence sounds a bit more polished.

Yes, it is used and understood in Spain, especially in:

• written language
• journalism
• formal or semi-formal speech
• argumentative or explanatory contexts

It is not the very first structure beginners usually learn, and it may sound a little more advanced than a simple si sentence, but it is definitely natural.

Desperdicio alimentario means food waste.

In Spain, this is a very common expression, especially in:

• public campaigns
• news articles
• environmental discussions
• government or educational texts

It is a bit more formal and technical than just saying tirar comida or desperdiciar comida.

Compare:

• reducir el desperdicio alimentario = to reduce food waste
• tirar comida = to throw food away

So the original sentence has a slightly formal, public-information style.

Spanish often uses an adjective after the noun to classify it.

So:

• desperdicio alimentario = food-related waste / food waste

This is more formal and compact than:

• desperdicio de comida

Both can be understood, but desperdicio alimentario is the standard expression in official or educational contexts in Spain.

Because in Spanish, adjectives often come after the noun, especially when they are classifying the noun rather than giving a personal opinion.

Here alimentario tells us what kind of waste it is:

• not any waste
• specifically food-related waste

So desperdicio alimentario is the normal order.

It is first person plural: we.

So both verbs refer to we:

• planifiquemos = we plan
• reduciremos = we will reduce

The sentence includes the speaker and at least one other person. It has an inclusive sense: if we plan even a little, we will reduce food waste.

Yes, the comma is very natural here.

The first part, A poco que planifiquemos, is a subordinate clause placed before the main clause. In Spanish, when this kind of introductory clause comes first, it is normally separated by a comma:

• A poco que planifiquemos, reduciremos el desperdicio alimentario.

If you reversed the order, the punctuation might change:

• Reduciremos el desperdicio alimentario a poco que planifiquemos.

That version is also possible, though the original order is more common for emphasis.

Often yes, but there is a small nuance.

• planificar often sounds more like to plan in an organized or systematic way
• planear can also mean to plan, but depending on context it may feel a bit broader or slightly less formal

In this sentence, planificar fits well because the idea is practical organization to avoid waste.

So:

• A poco que planifiquemos... sounds very natural
• A poco que planeemos... is possible, but planifiquemos feels especially appropriate here

Not really. A word-for-word translation would be misleading.

It is better to learn a poco que as a fixed expression. Good natural translations are:

• if only we... a little
• if we... even a little
• with just a little...
• as long as we... even slightly

So instead of translating each word separately, treat the whole expression as one unit.

Yes, moderately formal.

The things that make it sound more formal or polished are:

• a poco que instead of a simple si
• desperdicio alimentario instead of more everyday wording like tirar comida

It would fit well in:

• an article
• a campaign about sustainability
• a presentation
• an informative social media post

In everyday conversation, people might say something simpler, such as:

• Si nos organizamos un poco, tiraremos menos comida
• Si planificamos un poco, desperdiciaremos menos comida

Those are less formal and more conversational.