Minimising food waste

Food waste is a matter of concern. However, it is widespread and only getting worse day by day. Despite the shockingly high rates of food waste in every nation, the UN estimates that around one in ten people worldwide experience hunger and undernourishment. If you look closely, Bangladeshis are equally to blame. Food is wasted at every level in the country from sowing, tending, harvesting, processing, reaching the store, reaching the buyer to the consumers' plates. According to a report released by the United Nations Environment Programme, around 931 million tonnes of food end up being binned in restaurants, households, retailers, restaurants and other food services across the world. A Bangladesh national wastes around 60 kilograms of food on an average every year.

The main causes that contribute to the alarming level of food waste are improper handling at farm levels, a lack of infrastructure, inadequate storage facilities, a lack of advanced packaging materials, pest infestations, environmental factors, market inefficiencies, insufficient cold storage systems and consumer behaviours that result in significant spoilage of perishable produce. Floods, droughts and heat waves also raise the possibility of crop damage. Despite being an agricultural country, Bangladesh loses food grains at various levels, which leads to shortfall.

In our country where millions of people suffer from starvation and malnutrition, food wastage is almost a criminal act. Like the proverbial charity begins at home, we should make a start by influencing our children about the value of food and stress that the last bite of food on their plate is eaten. When eating out, we should not hesitate in getting our leftovers packed and either bring it home or give it to the poor. In Bangladesh, a large quantity of grain rots in warehouses due to lack of cold storages. More food processing industries should be set up so that farm produce can be preserved for a long time. We should do all we can to minimise food wastage in our country.

Afroza Sheikh,

Dania, Dhaka,

ilcbd2008@gmail.com