According to a new report from the UN organization UNEP, more than 1 billion meals are wasted daily worldwide. This increasingly strains the food supply, which is already under pressure due to wars, climate change, and population growth.
UNEP reports that in 2022, 1.05 billion tons of food waste (including inedible parts) were generated. Of the total food waste, 60% originates from households worldwide, 28% from the food supply chain, and 12% from retail. According to UNEP, this underscores the need for awareness and behavior change at the individual and family levels.
The UN report calls for action at all levels, from governments and companies to individual consumers. Recently, the countries of the European Union decided to increase their efforts to combat food waste. The decision on whether this should also apply to the production sector in agriculture and horticulture is left to the individual EU countries.
In addition to 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 harm the global economy and fuels climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, although UNEP reminds us that it is not only a problem for wealthy countries. Countries with differing income levels waste a similar amount of food per person on average.
The report also highlights the role of technology and innovation in tackling food waste and shortages. Through smart solutions such as better storage techniques, more efficient distribution systems, and the use of apps that help consumers reduce food waste, significant improvements can be achieved.
"Food waste is a global tragedy. Millions of people will experience hunger today as a result of food waste worldwide," said UNEP director Inger Andersen at the presentation of the report.