Stop food loss and waste, for the people, for the planet

Ranjan K Baruah

(With direct inputs from UN/WHO publication and feedback may be sent to bkranjan@gmail.com)

There are many people in the world who are striving for food every day as they are poor or do not have a proper place to stay. They cannot think of wasting food at any cost because whatever they get is important for them. The irony is that for many people in the world, food waste has become a habit: buying more food than we need at markets, letting fruits and vegetables spoil at home or taking larger portions than we can eat. In a country like India, we see both means people wasting food and people wanting food. Wastage of food puts extra strain on our natural resources and damages our environment. When we waste food, we waste the labour, effort, investment and precious resources (like water, seeds, feed, etc.) that go into producing it, not to mention the resources that go into transporting and processing it. In short, wasting food increases greenhouse gas emissions and contributes to climate change. If we cannot grow food like farmers then we do not have any right to waste food.

We should be aware that between harvest and retail alone, around 14 per cent of all food produced globally is lost. Huge quantities of food are also wasted in retail or at the consumer level. The part of food that is lost from harvest up to, but not including, the retail level is called food loss. The part wasted at the consumer or retail level is referred to as food waste. Reducing food loss and waste is essential in a world where millions of people go hungry every day.

It is possible to stop wastage of food for which we need our positive will to stop the wastage.

We can adopt a healthier, more sustainable diet; buy only what we need; store food wisely; understand food labelling; loving our leftovers; put your food waste to use; respect food; support local food producers; eat more pulses and veggies

Our food systems cannot be resilient if they are not sustainable, hence the need to focus on the adoption of integrated approaches designed to reduce food loss and waste. Actions are required globally and locally to maximize the use of the food we produce. The introduction of technologies, innovative solutions (including e-commerce platforms for marketing, retractable mobile food processing systems), new ways of working and good practices to manage food quality and reduce food loss and waste are keys to implementing this transformative change.

Cutting food loss and waste reduces poverty and hunger and fights climate change. In terms of climate change, the damage will be reduced taking into account that nowadays, food loss and waste are responsible for about 7% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and nearly 30% of the world's agricultural land is currently occupied to produce food that is ultimately never consumed.

Little changes to our daily habits can make a huge global impact and we must take action to stop food loss and waste as an estimated 17 per cent of total global food production is wasted (11 per cent in households, 5 per cent in the foodservice and 2 per cent in retail). Food that is lost and wasted accounts for 38 per cent of total energy usage in the global food system.

We need to be aware of the importance of the food loss and waste issue and promote global efforts towards resolving it. That is why, in 2019, the 74th United Nations General Assembly designated 29 September as the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (resolution A/RES/74/209), recognizing the fundamental role that sustainable food production plays in promoting food security and nutrition. The day is an opportunity to call to action both the public or private sectors as food loss and waste undermine the sustainability of our food systems.

Considering the world's growing population, the United Nations see an urgent need in addressing the large quantities of food lost and wasted around the globe, stressing the risks implied for climate change, agriculture sustainability, human livelihoods, and food supplies. We can take the opportunity of the day and raise more awareness and motivate people to stop food loss and wastage. Food loss and wastage can be easily managed if we come forward and take action. Each and everyone can make a big difference here for the planet. Let us make a commitment and take a pledge that we shall not waste any food or we shall not contribute towards food loss. Being one of the basic rights, no one should be deprived of food and everyone can ensure that through their actions by stopping food loss or food wastage.