ood waste is a global problem; about a third of the world’s food production is wasted every year. According to the United Nations, this amounts to about 1.3 billion tonnes of food annually, which is equivalent to the amount of food produced in Sub-Saharan Africa. The economic cost of food waste is estimated to be around $1 trillion annually. The environmental cost includes the emission of greenhouse gases, deforestation and the depletion of natural resources.

Pakistan’s food waste problem is quite alarming, considering that it is a country where a large number of people are food insecure. According to the World Food Programme, about 18.3 million people in Pakistan are food insecure, which means that they do not have access to enough food to meet their basic needs. This number has increased due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the economic crisis it caused.

The country is facing severe malnutrition, yet millions of tonnes of food is wasted. The Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) has revealed that Pakistan yearly wastes food worth $4 billion, which is approximately 26 percent of the food produced in the country. This represents a momentous loss for the agricultural sector and the economy as a whole. The cost of food waste includes not only the loss of revenue for farmers but also the cost of disposing of food waste, which puts additional strain on local authorities and waste management systems.

Food waste also has social implications, particularly in a country where food insecurity is a current issue. According to the report, almost 18 percent of the population in Pakistan is food insecure, meaning they do not have access to sufficient food to meet their dietary needs. Reducing food waste could, therefore, have remarkable benefits in terms of increasing food availability and reducing food insecurity in the country.

The environmental implications of food waste in Pakistan are also alarming. Food waste contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, which are a major driver of climate change. When food waste ends up in landfills, it produces methane gas, which is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. Furthermore, this increases the pressure on the already thinly stretched solid waste management system. Food waste also contributes to the depletion of natural resources, such as water and land, which are essential for agricultural production.

The annual food waste in Pakistan is 19.6 million tonnes. This is a significant amount of food that could have been used to feed millions of people. This revelation is quite shocking and should be a wake-up call for the government, businesses and citizens to take action and address this issue. It means that millions of people are not getting the food they need to survive, leading to malnutrition and illness – even death.

It also exacerbates poverty in the country, as many farmers are unable to sell their crops and earn a living. The report identifies several reasons for food waste, including poor storage facilities, lack of awareness about food preservation, inadequate transportation infrastructure and individual behaviours.

Food waste is a complex issue that arises from various factors, such as inefficient agricultural practices, inadequate storage and transportation facilities and inappropriate consumption patterns. The report indicates that much of the food waste in Pakistan occurs due to poor storage and transportation facilities, lack of market access for small farmers and post-harvest losses.

Inadequate storage and transportation facilities are a significant cause of food waste in Pakistan. According to the report, most small farmers in the country lack access to cold storage facilities, which leads to spoilage of fruits and vegetables. They struggle to find buyers for their products. As a result, they are forced to sell their produce at lower prices or let it go waste.

A lack of proper transportation facilities means that food products often get damaged or spoiled during transit, leading to waste. Farmers have to transport their crops over long distances to get them to the market. However, the roads and transportation networks in the country are often in poor condition. This means that a lot of food gets damaged or spoiled during transportation.

The report indicates that a noteworthy amount of food is lost during the harvesting and processing stages. This is mainly due to inadequate infrastructure and equipment, as well as a lack of knowledge and skills among farmers about proper harvesting and processing techniques. Lack of awareness about food preservation is also a major cause of food waste.

Many people in the country do not know the best practices for preserving food. They are not aware of how to store food in the refrigerator or freezer or how to can or dry food. This lack of knowledge means that a lot of food is wasted before it can be consumed.

Individual behaviours also contribute to food waste. Fresh food that does not meet the standards in terms of shape, size and colour is often discarded. Food items are also discarded by vendors or consumers when the use-by date is near. In kitchens and food establishments, food items are often left unused leading to food waste.

Another reason for food waste is the lack of awareness and education about the importance of reducing food waste. Many people in Pakistan do not realise the negative consequences of food waste and do not take steps to minimise it. This lack of awareness and education is not limited to some individuals but also extends to businesses and policymakers. The government can play a key role in raising awareness about the issue.

There are also a number of innovative solutions that can help reduce food waste. For example, the introduction of mobile apps that connect consumers with food suppliers and farmers can help reduce food waste by allowing consumers to buy only what they need. The use of block-chain technology can help improve supply chain transparency, which can reduce food waste by improving efficiency and reducing spoilage.

Ultimately, addressing food waste requires a multi-pronged approach involving government, industry and consumers. It require investment in infrastructure and technology as well as education and awareness-raising campaigns. With concerted efforts, it is possible to reduce food waste and improve food security for millions of people in the country.

One of the first steps could be to invest in improving the food supply chain infrastructure, including transportation, storage and processing facilities. There needs to be greater awareness about food preservation. This can be achieved through education campaigns and outreach programmes that teach people how to store and preserve food. Farmers can also be trained in best practices for storing and transporting their crops. This investment would not only reduce food waste but also increase the income of farmers and other stakeholders in the food supply chain.

In addition to infrastructure development, the government should promote public awareness campaigns to educate people about the negative consequences of food waste and encourage them to take steps to minimise it. Businesses/ investors can also play a substantial role in reducing food waste. They can adopt innovative technologies and business models that reduce food waste, such as using artificial intelligence to predict demand and optimise supply chains. There needs to be greater coordination between farmers, food producers and retailers.

The problem of food waste in Pakistan is serious. It requires urgent attention. The country is wasting a huge amount of food every year and that has negative environmental, economic and social impacts.