Context: Recently, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released the Food Waste Index Report 2021.

• It has revealed that 17% of all food available at consumer level (11% in households, 5% in food service and 2% in retail) was wasted in 2019 and around 690 million people had to go hungry.

Key Highlights of the report

• The food waste amounted to 931 million tonnes of food sold to households, retailers and restaurants.
• Around 23 million 40-tonne trucks would be needed to transport this waste and if they stood bumper to bumper, they would circle the Earth seven times.
• Food waste was a global problem and not that of just the developed world and was substantial, regardless of income level.
• On an average, 74 kilograms of food was wasted per capita at the household level.
• Some countries like Austria and South Africa produce very low amounts of waste at 39 kg / capita / year and 40 kg / capita / year respectively.
• Waste at household, food service and retail amounted to 79, 26 and 13 kilogram /capita / year respectively. 

India Specific highlights

• The waste in kg / capita / year was 50.
• However, this estimation is based on only three studies, all of which had a sample size or length that was either small or unclear.

About the Report

• It presents the most comprehensive food waste data collection, analysis and modelling to date, generating a new estimate of global food waste.
• It also publishes a methodology for countries to measure food waste, at household, food service and retail level, to track national progress towards 2030.
• In contrast to the Food Loss Index, the Food Waste Index measures total food waste (rather than loss or waste associated with specific commodities).

Significance of Reduction of Food Waste

• Reduce Hunger: Reducing food waste can slow the destruction of nature through land conversion and pollution, enhance the availability of food and thus reduce hunger and save money at a time of global recession.
• Aligned with SDGs: This Food Waste Index Report aims to advance progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 12.3), i.e. “By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses”.
• Tackle GHG Emissions: About 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions are associated with food that is not consumed. Thus, tackling food wastage issues can further achieve Paris Agreement targets.

Suggestions by the Report

• Enhancing NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions) for Food Systems: To raise ambition in national climate strategies by integrating food loss and waste, and strengthen food security.
• Co-create and adopt game-changing solutions to food waste through the UN Food Systems Summit.
• Regional Food Waste Working Group: These Working Groups will provide capacity building and training to participating Member States in measuring food waste, developing a national baseline and designing national strategies for food waste prevention.