NEW DELHI, Sept 28: Did you know that in 2023, one in every eleven people worldwide faced hunger In stark contrast, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has revealed that, on average, every individual wastes 79 kilograms of food annually.
Even more alarming is that nearly 60% of this food waste occurs at the household level, significantly contributing to global greenhouse gas emissions-accounting for 8 to 10 per cent of the total.
To draw attention to these critical issues, the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (IDAFLW) will be observed tomorrow, September 29. This day was officially designated by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2019.
The UN agency also cautions that 99% of the world’s population inhales air that falls short of safety standards. These intertwined challenges of food wastage and air pollution are exacerbating climate change, hunger, and public health risks, it noted
With the global population currently estimated at 8.2 billion and projected to approach 9.7 billion by 2050, UNEP underscores the urgent need to ensure access to sufficient and nutritious food for all.
Air pollution and food loss and waste are two of the most pressing global challenges of our time, notes the UN body. According to it, tropospheric ozone, a harmful air pollutant, damages crops and diminishes agricultural yields, while decomposing food waste in landfills releases methane-a potent greenhouse gas that further degrades air quality and accelerates climate change.
According to UNEP estimates, approximately 1.25 billion tonnes of food were lost globally after harvest but before reaching retail outlets in 2021. The agency aims to halve per capita food waste at both retail and consumer levels, while also reducing losses throughout production and supply chains.
Promoting innovation in agricultural food systems and embracing circular economy principles, UNEP asserts, can significantly reduce food loss and waste. Such efforts not only mitigate environmental harm but also generate employment, improve livelihoods, and create economic opportunities for a wide range of stakeholders.
Now is the time for everyone – from producers, investors, businesses and supply chain stakeholders to consumers of all ages, as well as academia and research, civil society, and the private and public sectors – to take urgent action to expand and strengthen efforts both individually and collectively, to reduce food loss and waste towards ensuring a food secure world – now and in the future, says the UNEP.
(UNI)
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