Food worth ₹1.55 lakh cr. wasted annually, Pg7

Key Highlights:

• The UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2024 reveals that 1.05 billion tonnes of food are wasted globally each year.
• India wastes 78-80 million tonnes of post-harvest crop and food annually, valued at ₹1.55 lakh crore, ranking second globally after China.
• 55 kg is the annual per capita household food waste in India, lower than the U.S. (73 kg) and Germany (75 kg).
• Over 8,200 tonnes of foodgrains spoiled in Food Corporation of India storage facilities in Punjab between 2019 and 2024.

Detailed Insights:

• Global food waste is attributed to inadequate post-harvest storage (60% from households, 28% from food services, 12% from retail) and systemic inefficiencies in supply chains.
• Despite massive food waste, around 783 million people globally face hunger, and over 3.1 billion cannot afford a healthy diet.
• Punjab faces significant food loss due to extreme weather events and inefficiencies in storage and logistics, exacerbated by inadequate infrastructure.
• Food waste contributes to 8-10% of global annual greenhouse gas emissions, with decomposing food in landfills releasing methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
• India processes only about 8% of its produce compared to 65% in the U.S. and 23% in China, highlighting the need for cold-chain infrastructure.
• Legislative measures, such as mandating food donation and providing tax incentives, can help redistribute surplus food and reduce waste.
• Empowering Farmer-Producer Organizations (FPOs) with mechanised drying and modern storage solutions can mitigate post-harvest losses at the farm gate.
• Establishing a national database for tracking food waste and promoting the ethic of treating food as sacred can foster a culture of waste reduction.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Food Waste Index: A report by UNEP that quantifies and analyzes global food waste.
• Post-Harvest Loss: The reduction in quantity and quality of food crops after harvest.
• Cold Chain: A temperature-controlled supply chain to maintain the quality of perishable goods.