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Source: This article on the Food Waste Index Report 2024 is based on “Households across the world waste 1 billion meals a day, says UN report” which was published in “The Hindu” on 29th March 2024.
Why in news?
Food Waste Index Report 2024, was launched by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme).
Findings of the report
1) According to the Food Waste Index Report 2024, households across the globe wasted over one billion meals a day in 2022.
2) Whereas, 783 million people struggled with hunger and a third of humanity faced food insecurity.
3) In 2022, 1.05 billion tonnes of food waste generated (including inedible parts) which amounts to 132 kilograms per capita and almost one-fifth of all food available to consumers.
4) Out of the total food wasted in 2022, 60% happened at the household level, with food services responsible for 28%, and retail 12%.
5) Many low- and middle-income countries continue to lack adequate systems for tracking progress to meet Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 of halving food waste by 2030, particularly in retail and food services.
6) It was found that food waste is not a “rich country problem”. Difference between average levels of household food waste for high-income, upper-middle, and lower-middle-income countries, was just 7 kg per capita.
8) Hotter countries appear to generate more food waste per capita in households. It is potentially due to higher consumption of fresh foods with substantial inedible parts and a lack of robust cold chains.
9) The report found that food loss and waste generated “8%-10%” of annual global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (almost five times that of the aviation sector).
The cost of both food loss and waste for the global economy was at $1 trillion.
10) As compared to urban areas, rural ones generally wasted less food, due to “greater diversion of food scraps to pets, livestock, and home composting”.
UPSC Syllabus: Reports
