Food waste threatens poverty reduction

Food waste threatens poverty reduction

Food loss and waste has huge implications on poverty reduction, impacts on economies, and depletes natural resources, said the WB.

Nhan Dan Online – In its recent report on poverty reduction, the World Bank (WB) has once again raised concerns about food loss and waste worldwide, which are major threats to food security and poverty reduction.

While millions of people across the planet go to bed hungry every night, millions of tonnes of food is being trashed, said WB President Jim Yong Kim.

The report revealed that of all the food produced for human consumption in the world one quarter to one third is lost or wasted.

In developed countries, the total of food lost or wasted is equivalent to 750 to 1,500 calories per person per day. In poorer areas where malnutrition is common, such as Africa and South Asia, the figure is surprisingly high, at about 400 to 500 calories per day being lost or wasted

Consumer habits in wealthy countries drive food wastage with an average family of four in the US and the UK wasting US$1,600 and US$1,100 annually on food purchased but not consumed. In poor countries, food is lost during the stages of production, storage and transport. For example the report claims that 87% of what is wasted in South/Southeast Asia is lost during these stages.

Clearly, in addition to efforts in improving agricultural technologies, it is necessary to change perceptions and behaviours towards food consumption to limit food losses.

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