DATA STORY : Food Waste Index

Download

According to the UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2021, around 931 million tonnes of food waste was generated in 2019. The report covers three sectors-Food retail, Households and Food service. India produces household waste at 50 kg /capita /year respectively. Due to the food waste, 690 million people had to go hungry in 2019.

Issues/ Challenges:

• SDG 12 Target 3 would be missed: If we do not increase the investment significantly in tackling food wastes in the home globally, we will definitely not achieve the SDG 12.3.
• Environmental Impact: Around 8-10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions are associated with food that is not consumed.
• Social Impact: Wasting food also raises social questions, particularly given the current global financial crisis, rising food prices and international food shortages.
• Economic Impact: Food loss and waste cause about $940 billion per year in economic losses.
• Non-inclusion in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): As of now, none of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the Paris Agreement mention food waste.
• Lack of proper data: Global estimates of food waste have relied on the extrapolation of data from a small number of countries, often using old data. Most countries do not have robust data on food waste.

• Highest burden: As environmental impacts accrue across the life cycle of food products, food waste at the consumer level presents the highest burden. 
  Limited Parameters: This estimation is based on only three studies, all of which had a sample size or length that was either small or unclear.

Suggestive Measures:

• Inclusion of food systems in NDC’s: Countries can raise climate ambition by including food systems in their NDCs.
• Community Awareness: The governments, civil societies and businesses have to sync with each other and generate community awareness regarding the importance of reducing food wastage.
• Innovative ideas: The UN Food Systems Summit will provide an opportunity to launch bold new actions to tackle food waste globally.
• Saving money: Food waste reductions can save money for farmers, companies, and households.
• Need to work on SDG targets: 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.