t a time when 783 million people across the world lack sufficient food to meet their needs, a third of the food produced is lost and wasted. This is a huge challenge, calling for immediate attention of all and sundry. Food lost and wasted (FLW) is not only impeding the achievement of global food security targets but also creates serious economic and environmental consequences leading to severe social implications. The biggest among those is hunger, that is on the rise.

It is estimated that more than 14 percent of the food is lost before reaching the retail market. Another 17 percent of the food is wasted at the retail market and by the end user. This represents food produced on 30 percent of the agricultural land globally. In monetary terms, the wasted food costs $1 trillion to the global economy.

The FLW is also one of the primary contributors to the environmental degradation. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, food loss and waste generates equivalent of 8 percent of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. Another estimate suggests that “if global food loss and waste is considered a country, it would be the third largest emitter of GHGs after China and the USA.”

Most of the food loss usually occurs at the post-harvest stage. The supply chain - storage, processing and distribution - adds to it. There are many contributing factors, such as inefficient harvesting and post-harvesting processes, including improper handling of the produce and its exposure to environmental factors like heat, sunlight and excessive moisture.

Poor marketing mechanisms and transportation systems also cause waste. The unsold stocks are often left in the open, leading to more waste. The food grading and packing of food are the weakest links in the supply chain. This segment of the supply chain cannot flourish without an understanding of the regulatory framework.

Food waste, on the other hand, refers to the ready food discarded at the retail and consumption phases. It primarily stems from behavioural issues among the end consumers, including disposal of leftovers, stale food and blemished fruits and vegetables.

In Pakistan, the FLW is quite alarming. 8.62 million people faces acute food insecurity; another 6.24 million are stressed. Yet, the Ministry of National Food Security and Research says the waste amounts to nearly 26 percent of the food production, roughly 20 million tonnes, valued at $4 billion.

On the production side, three main crops (wheat, rice and maize) worth $12 billion lose nearly $1 billion annually. The loss is two-fold, both in quantity and quality. The factors contributing to it include traditional drying practices, sub-optimal warehousing, traditional logistics and unfair market practices.

A majority of Pakistani farmers have low yields per acre and high per unit cost of production. The heavy reliance on traditional methods leads to over-exploitation of natural resources and makes the crop vulnerable to market shocks. It also increases the risk of infestation.

Poor marketing mechanisms and transportation systems lead to waste. Unsold stocks are often left in the open, leading to waste. Food grading and packing of food are the weakest links in the supply chain.

Resolving the complex factors driving the FLW requires urgent and coordinated efforts by policymakers, farmers and investors. 88 percent of Pakistani farmers have small land holdings and are unable to invest in value chains, due to limited technological, financial and intellectual resources.

Addressing the supply chain losses requires establishing strong backward and forward linkages among the farmers and other actors. The farmers need easier access to domestic market, credit and platform to sell food and improve food quality for export which will be one step ahead in reducing food losses.

On logistic side, timely delivery of fresh food in optimal condition requires efficient transportation. This is possible only by building public-private partnerships. By incentivising investment in cold storage infrastructure, the government can help farmers reduce the post-harvest losses in fruits, vegetables and dairy products.

The government can play a proactive role to support farmers as well as provide a conducive environment for the private sector and forge global partnerships for reducing losses. Research institutes, academia and thinktanks should work together towards minimising the FLW.

After the 18th Constitutional Amendment provincial governments are the custodians of the agriculture sector. The responsibility to reduce the FLW firmly rests on their shoulders. The Punjab adopted the Disposal of Excess Food Regulations in 2019. These can be adopted by other provinces, too.

Under this law, foodchains are required to donate their surplus food to charities, instead of wasting it. The goal is to save excess food for those unable to afford it. Developing food recovery system for collection and distribution at the retail level can also help, especially at restaurants. Besides global best practices, such as food banks, donation programmes and leveraging of innovative technologies should be a constant concern.

At the consumer’s end, food waste is a behavioural issue. Proven techniques for behaviour change should be shared and adopted. Perishable commodities should be labeled for details on use. Advocacy through print and digital media can play a pivotal role in educating consumers. NGOs can develop targeted campaigns to support the cause.

The government should work out a strategy to reduce the FLW and set national food security targets and goals. It should align the food and nutrition security policy, programmes and regulations with the SDGs, particularly SDG 12.3, which provides a framework to deal with the FLW which can put Pakistan on the path to being a food-secure country.

The writers are associated with the Sustainable Development Policy Institute. The views expressed are solely those of authors. They can be reached at khansa@sdpi.org, rabia_tabassum@sdpi.organdqasim@sdpi.org