According to a new report from the UN agency UNEP, there is a global waste of over 1 billion meals per day. As a result, the food supply is increasingly strained, already under pressure from wars, climate change, and population growth.
UNEP states that in 2022, 1.05 billion tons of food waste (including inedible parts) was generated. Of the total food waste, 60% comes from households worldwide, 28% from the food supply chain, and 12% from retail. According to UNEP, this underscores the need for awareness and behavioral change at the individual and household levels.
The UN report calls for action at all levels, from governments and businesses to individual consumers. Recently, the European Union countries decided to increase their efforts against food waste. It remains up to the EU member states to decide whether this should also apply to the production sector in agriculture and horticulture.
Besides the problem of food waste, the issue of food shortages is also addressed. While large amounts of food are wasted, millions of people worldwide still suffer from hunger. This raises questions about the fairness and sustainability of the global food system, says UNEP.
Food waste continues to damage the global economy and fuel climate change, loss of nature, and pollution, although UNEP reminds that it is not only a problem for wealthy countries. Countries with different income levels waste an average similar amount of food per person.
The report also highlights the role of technology and innovation in addressing food waste and shortages. Through smart solutions such as improved storage methods, more efficient distribution systems, and the use of apps that help consumers reduce food waste, significant improvements can be made.
“Food waste is a global tragedy. Millions of people will go hungry today as a result of food waste around the world,” said UNEP director Inger Andersen during the presentation of the report.