• World Earth Day is observed on 22^nd April every year, to promote awareness and act toward protecting planet.
• It gives emphasizes the need for urgent action to address the environmental challenges.
• There is a growing need to devote our efforts, finances, and time to addressing climate change and other ecological problems.
• Food loss and waste is one of such problems which need to be addressed to overcome food insecurity as well as to mitigate climate change.

Food Loss and Waste

• Food loss and waste have been major problems for both the developed and the developing world around world.
• The ever-growing global population coupled with expanding demand for food products has exerted extreme pressure on natural resources and also impacted the climate and the food system.
• Curtailing food loss and waste can help address food insecurity in underprivileged communities and mitigate climate change.
• 17 % of the food generated globally from food service, households, and retail sectors is discarded annually.
• It is equivalent to almost one billion tonnes.
• 14 % of the world’s total food supply is lost between harvest and retail.

Food Loss and Waste in India

• India accounts for 7 % of global food waste.
• It is projected 68.8 million tonnes of food waste each year.
• As per the report by the Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution Ministry, an Indian household wastes around 50 kg of food per year, which is substantially lower than in many developed countries.
• Despite this, one out of every four malnourished individuals across the globe is from India.

Reasons for food loss in India

• In India, the reasons behind food loss are:
• Inadequate storage and cold chain facilities
• Social customs
• Insufficient consumer awareness
• Availability of bulk packaging and promotional deals
• However, the government has launched several measures in response to the global demand of reducing food loss and waste.

Government’s efforts to reduce food loss and waste

    1. PM Kisan SAMPADA Yojana

• It was launched in 2016.
• It was aimed at developing modern infrastructure with an effective supply chain network that spans from the farm to the retail store.
• This initiative is expected to benefit the food processing industry, increase farmers’ incomes, reduce agricultural waste, improve processing capabilities, and boost exports of processed food products.

    2. Eat Right India Movement

• The Eat Right India Movement was launched by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the central government.
• This scheme was launched in 2018. 
• The goal was ‘Sahi Bhojan, Bethar Jeevan’.
• It is a flagship program in line with other initiatives including:
• Ayushmaan Bharat
• Poshan Abhiyaan
• Anemia Mukt Bharat
• Swachh Bharat Mission
• Aiming till 2050, to create a culture of safe, healthy, and sustainable food for all.

  3. Other efforts by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries

• The Ministry is entrusted with developing post-harvest infrastructure and processing facilities.
• It is for supporting the sector’s overall development, including reducing post-harvest losses and increasing value addition.
• The Ministry uses numerous studies built on primary surveys to estimate post-harvest losses in a variety of agricultural commodities.
• A recent study by NABCONS 2022 highlighted that fruit crops experience the highest %age losses (6.02-15.05 %) followed by vegetables (4.87-11.61 %) and fisheries (Marine) (8.76 %).

Impact of Food Loss and Waste

• Food loss and waste have significant economic, social, and environmental impacts.
• It gives rise to food insecurity, food prices, and waste of valuable resources like land, water, and energy.
• It also generates methane gas, which is a powerful greenhouse gas responsible for causing climate change.
• Hence, decreasing food waste and loss is critical for accomplishing sustainable development goals and minimizing the consequences of climate change.

Steps to reduce food loss and waste

• Educating and raising awareness about food loss and waste among the citizens.
• It is important to invest in the required infrastructure and technology, especially in the food supply chain where such losses are higher.
• It is time to promoted not only sustainable consumption but also constantly and rigorously endeavor to implement measures and steps to reduce food waste.
• There is a need to support food recovery and redistribution initiatives to minimize food loss and waste and reduce carbon footprints for our planet Earth.

Saving food can be one way among many to save planet Earth among many others. World Earth Day 2023 provides a chance for people, corporations, and governments to act toward decreasing food loss and waste. Such acts can improve food security, reduce economic losses, and protect our planet’s resources.