International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste is observed annually on 29 September to raise global awareness about the issues of food loss and waste (FLW) and promote sustainable solutions across the food supply chain. The day is co-convened by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) and UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) under the UN framework.
Purpose of the Day
- Raise awareness about the scale and impact of food loss and waste.
- Promote global efforts and collective action to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 12.3:
- Halve per capita food waste at retail and consumer levels by 2030.
- Reduce food losses along production and supply chains.
Global Statistics
- Average 74 kg of food per person wasted annually.
- 1.4 billion hectares of agricultural land used to produce food that is ultimately discarded.
- 14% of produced food (~$400 billion) lost between harvest and sale.
- 17% of global agrifood production wasted overall.
India’s Scenario
- Among the highest food-wasting nations, second only to China.
- Per capita household food waste: 55 kg/year.
- Total post-harvest losses: ~78 million tonnes, costing ~₹1.5 trillion (~3.7% of agricultural GDP).
- Food loss leads to reduced farmer incomes, environmental impact, and strain on government food schemes.
Food Loss vs. Food Waste
- Food Loss: Occurs early in the supply chain due to poor storage, handling, transport inefficiencies, and pest/disease attacks.
- Food Waste: Discarding of edible or inedible food at retail, restaurants, or household level due to over-purchasing, poor meal planning, short shelf life, or cultural habits.
Key Reasons for Food Loss and Waste
- Harvesting inefficiencies: Premature/delayed harvesting reduces quality and quantity.
- Mechanisation gaps: Limited access to harvesting machinery causes spillage.
- Pest and disease attacks: Lack of proper control leads to spoilage.
- Inadequate infrastructure: Shortage of cold chains, warehouses, moisture-proof silos.
- Transport bottlenecks: Poor road connectivity and limited refrigerated transport.
- Cultural practices: Preference for fresh or unblemished produce.
- Household-level waste: Over-purchasing, cooking in excess, poor storage.
Implications of Food Loss and Waste
- Economic Loss: ₹1.5 trillion annual GDP loss in India.
- Farmer Incomes: Reduced profitability due to spoilage.
- Environmental Impact:
- High greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane from rice and livestock products.
- Wasted resources: water, energy, fertilizers, and land.
- Social Impact: Contrasts starkly with food insecurity; over 20 crore Indians go hungry while large quantities are wasted.
Way Forward
- Food loss and waste is not only an efficiency issue but also a climate justice, sustainability, and equity challenge.
- Tackling FLW provides a triple benefit for India:
- Enhancing food security
- Strengthening farmer livelihoods
- Advancing climate commitments
- International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (IDAFLW) underscores that saving food saves resources, protects the environment, and ensures dignity for farmers and consumers.
Government Initiatives in India
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY)
- Objective: Reduce post-harvest losses, enhance food processing, and improve farmer incomes.
- Components: Mega food parks, cold chain facilities, agro-processing clusters, credit-linked subsidies.
Indian Food Sharing Alliance (IFSA)
- Implemented by FSSAI to promote food donation and reduce waste across the supply chain.
Zero Waste, Zero Hunger Initiatives
- Example: Tinsukia Municipal Board (Assam) collects surplus food from hotels/restaurants and redistributes it to the homeless.
Food Recovery Campaigns
- “Save Food, Share Food, Share Joy” campaign by FSSAI encourages surplus food donation and coordination among recovery agencies.
MoFPI & FSSAI Collaboration
- Ensures quality and safety standards for processed food and coordinated action against FLW.