Global Tragedy: One Billion Meals Wasted Daily While Many Go Hungry
GENEVA — In a stark revelation, a new report by the UN environment agency (UNEP) has uncovered that while a third of humanity faces food insecurity, the equivalent of one billion meals are wasted every day. The report, titled UN Environment Program’s Food Waste Index Report 2024, sheds light on the alarming statistics showing that one fifth of food is thrown away.
The report highlights that the latest data from 2022 indicates that a staggering 1.05 billion tons of food went to waste. Some 19 percent of food available to consumers was lost at retail, food service, and household levels.
Additionally, around 13 percent of food was lost in the supply chain, from post-harvest up to the point of sale, as estimated by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Speaking on the issue, Inger Andersen, executive director of UNEP, described food waste as a global tragedy that not only impacts the global economy but also exacerbates climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. She emphasized that millions go hungry daily as food is wasted across the world.
The majority of the world’s food waste comes from households, accounting for 631 million tons — or up to 60 percent — of the total food squandered. The food service and retail sectors were responsible for 290 and 131 million tons, respectively.
On average, each person wastes 79 kilograms of food annually, equivalent to 1.3 meals every day for those impacted by hunger worldwide, as highlighted in the report.
The report also points out that the problem of food waste is not limited to affluent nations, with increased convergence between rich and poor countries. While high-income, upper-middle income, and lower-middle income countries exhibit slight differences in average levels of household food waste, the divide between urban and rural populations is more pronounced.
It is recommended in the report to focus efforts on strengthening food waste reduction and composting in urban areas. The report also notes a correlation between average temperatures and food waste levels, with hotter countries showing higher levels of food waste per capita in households.
Since food loss and waste contribute significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions, reducing emissions from food waste is crucial, according to UNEP experts. Public-private partnerships to reduce food waste and its impact on climate and water stress have shown promise, with countries like Japan and the UK leading by example.
The report, co-authored with UK climate action NGO WRAP, provides guidance to countries on improving data collection and best practices to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 of halving food waste by 2030. With the International Day of Zero Waste approaching, the report serves as a wake-up call to address the pressing issue of food waste on a global scale. — UN News
