Food Waste Index Report 2021 – UPSC Prelims

  • Released by UNEP.
  • Aim: The Report aims at supporting the goals of SDG 12.3. It does so by presenting the most comprehensive food waste data collection and analysis.
  • SDG Target 12.3: It aims to halve global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses, including post-harvest losses, along supply chains by 2030.
  • Key Findings of the report:
    • Food Waste: An estimated 17% (931 million tonnes) of total global food production was wasted in 2019. Among them, 61% of the global waste came from households, 26% from food service and 13% from retail.
    • Food Wastes across income groups: Household per capita food waste generation is broadly similar across country income groups. It suggests that action on food waste is equally relevant in high, upper‐middle and lower-middle-income countries.
    • Hunger Across the World: In 2019, some 690 million people were impacted by hunger and three billion were unable to afford a healthy diet.
  • Impact of Food Waste:
    • Environment Impact: Around 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions are associated with food that is not consumed.
    • Economic Impact: Food loss and waste cause about $940 billion per year in economic losses.
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