September 29: International Day of Awareness on Food Loss and Waste Reduction
Every year the International Day of Awareness on Food Loss and Waste Reduction is observed on 29th September 2020. This is the first ever observance of the day by the Food Agriculture Organization, United Nations. It was designated by the UN in 2019
Highlights
Globally 14% of food produced is lost between harvest and retail. All the resources put in go waste when food is wasted. This includes land, energy, water, labour and capital. Also, disposal of food waste in landfills leads to green house gas emissions that then contributes to climate change.
Food Loss Index
It has been created by Food Agriculture Organization to focus on percentage of food removed from the supply chain. Also, the index helps to monitor Sustainable Development Goal 12.3.
Sustainable Development Goal
The SDG 12.3 says that the world shall halve per capita global food waste and reduce food losses along production, supply chain and post-harvest losses. The SDG 12 aims to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
Significance
Food waste and losses have been increasing slowly since 2014. This year, the day is celebrated under the following theme
Theme: Stop Food Loss and waste for the People for the planet
Indian Food Sharing Alliance
It is an initiative of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to help India in solving its food waste and hunger crisis. This is being done by integrating various partner organizations.
Food Loss in India
India ranks 102nd in Global Hunger Index among 117 countries. Around 21 million tonnes of wheat is wasted in India every year. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Rs 50,000 crore worth food is wasted every year in India. 25% of fresh water used to produce food is ultimately wasted in terms of food loss. Also, 300 million barrels of oil used to produce food is wasted annually.
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Month: Current Affairs - September, 2020