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In News: Recently, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released the Food Waste Index Report 2021.
- The index was prepared by using data from 54 countries and then extrapolated to the remaining countries.
Key Findings
- The report estimated that 931 million tonnes of food were wasted in 2019.
- It has revealed that 17% of all food available at the consumer level (11% in households, 5% in foodservice and 2% in retail) was wasted in 2019 and around 690 million people had to go hungry.
- The FAO has produced a Food Loss Index which shows that around 14% of the world’s food is lost from post-harvest up to, but excluding, the retail level.
- Data on all three areas of food waste, namely household, foodservice and retail was available only for high-income countries.
- On 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.
- Countries like Nigeria and Rwanda are producing waste at 189 kg /capita/year and 164 kg/capita/year respectively.
- Per capita, food wastage is, in fact, much higher in west Asian and sub-Saharan African countries compared to South Asian.
- However, this estimation is based on only three studies, all of which had a sample size or length that was either small or unclear.
- Concerns
- Food waste also has a substantial environmental, social and economic impact.
- An estimated 8-10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions are associated with food that is not consumed.
- Suggestions
- Countries can raise climate ambition by including food waste in Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Agreement, while strengthening food security and cutting costs to households.
- Significance of reducing food waste
- Reducing food waste would cut greenhouse gas emissions, slow the destruction of nature through land conversion and pollution.
- It will enhance the availability of food and thus reduce hunger and save money at a time of global recession.
About Food Waste Index
- The report, produced jointly by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and WRAP.
- It presents the most comprehensive food waste data collection, analysis and modelling to date, generating a new estimate of global food waste.
- It seeks to support efforts to halve food waste by 2030.
- It aims at supporting the goals of SDG 12.3.
- SDG target 12.3 aims at halving per-capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reducing food losses along production and supply chains.
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About the UN Environment Programme
Food Loss Index
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