Tackling Food Waste to Combat Global Hunger

Food insecurity continues to plague millions globally, even as advances in agricultural productivity enable the world to produce enough food to nourish more than the current population. According to the FAO (2021), food security is achieved when all individuals always have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food. However, in 2022, more than 828 million people experienced an alarming increase of 150 million since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic (FAO, 2023). This disconnects between abundance and access exposes a deep-rooted systemic failure. The real challenge lies not in the quantity of food produced, but in ensuring equitable distribution and access, factors heavily influenced by poverty, income disparity, supply chain inefficiencies, and weak policy frameworks.

A critically under-acknowledged contributor to this crisis is food waste. Globally, nearly one-third of all food produced is wasted, amounting to approximately 1.3 billion tons each year (UNEP, 2021). This wastage occurs at every stage of the food supply chain from production and post-harvest handling to retail and household consumption. Ironically, while millions suffer from hunger, massive quantities of edible food are discarded due to cosmetic standards, poor infrastructure, and consumer behavior.

Addressing food waste presents a powerful opportunity to improve food security, reduce environmental degradation, and create a more sustainable food system. Reducing losses in agricultural production and improving cold storage, transportation, and market access in developing regions can significantly enhance food availability. In wealthier nations, consumer awareness campaigns, food redistribution programs, and regulatory interventions targeting retailers can help redirect surplus food to those in need. In the face of rising global hunger, combating food waste must become a central strategy in the broader agenda of ensuring food security for all.

The Paradox of Plenty: Food Waste Amid Global Hunger

Despite producing more than enough food to nourish the global population, the world continues to grapple with chronic hunger and malnutrition. A staggering one-third of all food produced, around 1.3 billion tons, is wasted each year (UNEP, 2021), equating to nearly 2.6 trillion meals lost. This occurs while 2.4 billion people face moderate to severe food insecurity and nearly 900 billion meals would suffice to end global hunger (FAO, 2023; WFP, 2023). This paradox highlights profound inefficiencies and inequities in our global food systems.

Food waste spans the entire supply chain. In developed countries, most waste arises at the retail and consumer levels, often due to over-purchasing, bulk buying, and strict aesthetic or quality standards that result in perfectly edible food being discarded. Conversely, in developing nations, losses typically occur at the production, storage, and transportation stages due to poor infrastructure, lack of cold chains, and inefficient logistics (World Bank, 2022). Perishable items such as fruits and vegetables account for 45% of this waste, followed by cereals (30%) and dairy products (20%) (FAO, 2021).

This waste has significant repercussions for food security. First, it squanders valuable natural resources: approximately 28% of the world’s agricultural land is used to produce food that is never consumed, and 250 cubic kilometers of water, roughly the volume of three Lake Genevas, is wasted annually (WWF, 2023). Such inefficiencies intensify pressure on ecosystems and limit the capacity to expand food access sustainably.

Second, large-scale food waste contributes to rising food prices. When significant portions of food are lost or discarded, the available supply decreases, driving up costs. In Pakistan, for instance, avocado prices soared to Rs. 2,100 per kilogram, rendering nutritious food inaccessible to many (Trading Economics, 2023). In Kenya, post-harvest losses of up to 40% in potato crops have led to price surges, compounding the burden of food insecurity (World Bank, 2022).

Third, food waste directly reduces availability and contributes to malnutrition. In countries like South Sudan, food insecurity affects 61% of the population, and nearly a third of children under five suffer from stunting due to inadequate nutrition (WFP, 2023). Meanwhile, developed countries confront the dual burden of obesity and waste, reflecting an uneven distribution of food and nutrition.

Lastly, the ethical and environmental costs are stark. Wasting food while millions go hungry is a moral failure. Moreover, food waste is responsible for 8–10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, surpassing the combined emissions from aviation and maritime transport (UNEP, 2021). Addressing food waste is thus not only a humanitarian imperative but also an environmental necessity. Reducing it could simultaneously fight hunger, lower food prices, conserve resources, and combat climate change.

Tackling Food Waste: A Global Call to Action

Addressing the global food waste crisis requires coordinated, multi-level efforts from governments, the private sector, farmers, consumers, and international organizations. Each actor plays a pivotal role in transforming how food is produced, distributed, and consumed, ensuring that fewer resources are wasted and more people are fed.

Government action is critical to driving large-scale change. France, through its Garot Law (2016), has set a precedent by requiring supermarkets to donate unsold edible food to charities, significantly curbing food waste at the retail level. Similarly, South Korea’s innovative "Pay as You Trash" policy has led to a 30% reduction in food waste by incentivizing consumers to waste less (Reuters, 2022). Additionally, investing in infrastructure such as cold storage and efficient supply chains particularly in developing nations can dramatically cut post-harvest losses, which are a major cause of food waste in low-income regions (World Bank, 2023).

The private sector also has a key role to play. Supermarkets and food retailers can adopt strategies like discounting near-expiry items or donating surplus food via mobile apps like Too Good to Go. Emerging technologies such as AI-powered inventory management can optimize logistics, reducing spoilage across the supply chain (McKinsey, 2023).

Farmers and producers can benefit from improved harvesting methods and access to shared storage facilities, helping to reduce on-farm losses. These solutions are especially effective when supported by agricultural extension services and rural development programs (FAO, 2022). Consumers can also make a difference. Small actions like meal planning, buying "ugly" produce, and composting organic waste collectively led to substantial reductions in household food waste (NRDC, 2023).

Finally, global partnerships are vital. The United Nations’ “Food Is Never Waste” coalition and Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 aim to halve global food waste by 2030. Organizations such as the FAO, WFP, and UNEP provide technical and financial support to help countries develop waste-reduction policies and practices. By working together, stakeholders can build a more just, efficient, and sustainable global food system.

Conclusion

Food waste represents one of the most preventable yet overlooked drivers of global hunger. Despite the world producing enough food to nourish every individual, over 828 million people still face hunger, while nearly one-third of that food is wasted. This paradox underscores a broken food system, where inefficiencies in production, distribution, and consumption perpetuate food insecurity, economic loss, and environmental harm. Addressing food waste must become a central pillar in the global fight against hunger, poverty, and climate change.

The impacts of food waste are staggering it squanders vast natural resources, raises food prices, and contributes up to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. These outcomes deepen inequality and undercut the progress toward food justice. Importantly, food waste is a solvable problem. With coordinated policy reforms, private sector innovation, consumer behavioral change, and global cooperation, meaningful reductions can be achieved.

Strategies such as investing in cold chains, mandating food donations, optimizing logistics with technology, and promoting awareness at the household level are already showing promising results. A collective, multi-stakeholder approach is essential to transform this challenge into an opportunity. Reducing food waste not only ensures that more people are fed, but it also builds a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable future for all.

References: FAO; UNEP; WFP; World Bank; WWF; Trading Economics; Reuters; McKinsey; NRDC

Please note that the views expressed in this article are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of any organization.

The writer is affiliated with the National Institute of Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan and can be reached at minahilsfdr952@gmail.com

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