Food Loss and Waste (FLW) manifests as a catastrophic drain on economies, a significant driver of climate change, and a profound ethical contradiction.
On September 29, the world observed the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (IDAFLW), which draws attention towards food waste and climate security. Globally, nearly one-third of all food produced is either lost or wasted.
As one of the world's largest food producers, India is not immune to this challenge, facing substantial post-harvest losses across multiple sectors. A study in 2022 by NABARD Consultancy Services (NABCONS), a subsidiary of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) commissioned by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), showed that such losses remain high throughout the agricultural spectrum.
As the climate crisis deepens and ecosystems are stressed, each lost tonne of food represents wasted water, energy, and labor, and also foregone nutrition.
Understanding the Global Food Waste Crisis
According to recent UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) data, approximately 1.05 billion tonnes of food is wasted annually across retail, food service, and household sectors. This translates to over one billion meals discarded every day while 783 million people face food insecurity.
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations data provides insights into where and why this waste occurs. Food loss occurs at every stage from production and post-harvest handling to processing driven by gaps in infrastructure and technological limitations, despite the fact that processing often helps mitigate overall post-harvest spoilage.
Food waste occurs at retail, food service, and household levels, driven by behavioral factors, poor planning, and confusion over date labels. India discards approximately 68-78 million tonnes of food annually, positioning it among the top nations facing this crisis.
Climate Connection: Food Waste and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The environmental impact of food waste extends beyond landfills. When food decomposes in landfills without oxygen, it produces methane (a greenhouse gas with more potent short-term warming effects than carbon dioxide). Globally, food waste generates an estimated 8-10% of total greenhouse gas emissions, making it a major contributor to climate change.
The UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2024 emphasizes that addressing food waste is essential for meeting the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 12.3, which aims to halve per capita global food waste and reduce food losses by 2030. Current assessments indicate the world is "far off track" from achieving this target.
In India, the climate impact is substantial. Post-harvest losses contribute approximately 64.1 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent emissions annually for selected crops, while solid food waste adds another 94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent.
Infrastructure Gaps and Behavioral Factors
Infrastructure Deficits in Developing Economies
In countries like India, infrastructure gaps include weak cold chains, inadequate storage facilities, limited processing capacity, and poor transportation networks cause substantial post-harvest losses. Post-harvest losses are estimated to cost India nearly ₹1.5 trillion annually which amounts to about 3.7% of agricultural GDP.
FAO data and the NABCONS study confirm that these structural weaknesses led to fruits and vegetables experiencing 10-15% losses, while staples like paddy and wheat face 4.8% and 4.2% losses. Scaling these percentage losses to India's total agricultural output reveals a staggering annual waste of millions of tonnes.
This economic toll hits farmers directly through lost income and affects consumers through reduced food availability. Furthermore, it underscores the waste of the embedded resources in agriculture, including water, energy, and labor.
Moreover, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries identifies persistent challenges, specifically "gaps in supply chain infrastructure" and "inadequate primary processing, storage and distribution." This indicates that the benefits of large, centralized facilities cannot be realized if produce suffers high losses before entering the system.
Behavioral Challenges
Consumer behavior plays a major role in household food waste, which accounts for 631 million tonnes globally. People often confuse "Best Before" and "Use By" dates, causing them to throw away safe and edible food, which is a major driver of household waste. Bulk purchasing without meal planning, perfectionist standards for produce appearance, and affluence contribute to waste.
Practical Solutions: Strengthening Infrastructure
Large-Scale Infrastructure Investment
India's Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY) exemplifies the type of large-scale infrastructure investment needed to reduce food loss. This central sector scheme aims to create modern infrastructure and efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlet.
As of June 2025, PMKSY has approved 1,601 projects nationwide. These projects have created a preservation and processing capacity of 255.66 lakh metric tonnes per annum, benefiting over 3.4 million farmers. Specifically, 395 integrated cold chain projects have been approved.
Affordable Technologies for Smallholders
Affordable technologies offer options for small and marginal farmers. Solar cold storage, low-cost cooling chambers, proper crating systems for perishables, and moisture-proof silos for grains can reduce spoilage without prohibitive costs.
These decentralized technologies complement large infrastructure projects by addressing the "first mile" problem ensuring produce is handled and preserved after harvest, before it reaches centralized facilities.
FAO Food Loss App (FLAPP) and AI and IoT in Commercial Kitchens
Launched in 2023, FLAPP is a mobile tool designed for farmers, organizations, and governments to track and analyze food losses across the value chain. Used in over 30 countries, FLAPP helps pinpoint where, when, and why losses occur, converting data into insights that guide interventions.
This digital approach supports accountability in realizing SDG 12.3 by providing the data needed to measure progress and identify high-priority intervention points. In commercial food service settings, artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies are delivering results.
Behavioral Change: Campaigns and Policy Interventions
Regulatory Clarity on Date Labels and Individual Actions
Standardizing food date labels is an effective, low-cost measure that reduces food waste. Clear distinctions between terms like "Best By" (quality indicator) and "Use By" (safety indicator) can help consumers make better choices, preventing unnecessary food disposal.
Consumers can reduce food waste by engaging in meal planning, employing proper storage techniques, and composting waste. Community-supported agriculture (CSA) and food-sharing platforms encourage participation in circular economies focused on resource efficiency.
Simple actions like prioritizing "imperfect" produce, creatively using leftovers, and supporting businesses with waste-reduction commitments collectively translate into substantial systemic impact. The transition from a linear "take-make-dispose" model to a circular approach depends on individuals recognizing their agency in closing the loop between production and consumption.
Precision-Targeted Awareness Campaigns
Generic public awareness campaigns have limited effectiveness. The UK's "Love Food Hate Waste" campaign, led by WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme), demonstrates the power of precision targeting based on research. It focussed on audiences that waste the most food and on particular items such as discarded milk, bread, and potatoes.
Sub-campaigns like "Save Our Spuds" and "Chill the Fridge Out" address specific behaviors and storage practices, proving that understanding what is wasted and why matters more than generalized appeals.
Path Forward
The observance of International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste on September 29 calls to action demanding concrete commitments and measurable progress. The challenge is immense, spanning infrastructure deficits, behavioral inertia, regulatory gaps, and systemic fragmentation.
Yet the solutions exist and are proven. Strategic infrastructure investment informed by FAO data and research, precision behavioral interventions guided by demographic analysis, regulatory harmonization on date labels, and circular economy models that transform waste into resources.
Master Digital Age Governance & Technology Trends with VisionIAS Comprehensive Current Affairs →
Food Waste FAQs
1. How much food is wasted globally each year?
Ans. Approximately 1.05 billion tonnes annually.
2. When is International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste?
Ans. September 29.
3. What is SDG 12.3 target for food waste?
Ans. Halve per capita food waste and reduce food losses by 2030.
4. What gas does food waste produce in landfills?
Ans. Methane.
5. What is FLAPP used for?
Ans. Tracking and analyzing food losses across the value chain.