lobal food insecurity isn’t about lack of food. Today, farmers around the world are producing enough food to nourish every man, woman and child on the planet. A third of the food produced in the world—roughly 1.3 billion tonnes annually—gets lost or wasted. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, by reversing trends in food loss and waste, the world can preserve food sufficient to feed 2 billion people. This is more than enough for thrice the estimated number of undernourished people across the globe.

The worth of the food lost or wasted every year in the world is approximately $1 trillion. It is a pity that this is happening when the United Nations is pleading for billions of dollars in financial resources till 2030 to eradicate hunger and food insecurity.

The situation in Pakistan is no different. In fact, it is alarming. According to the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Pakistan wastes 26 percent of its annual food production, roughly 20 million tonnes, valued at $4 billion. Losses in three main food crops—namely wheat, rice and maize—alone are worth $1 billion annually. Losses in fruits and vegetables are even higher. According to the United Nations Environment Programme’s Food Waste Index 2024 report, per capita food waste in Pakistan is as high as 212 kgs/ person/ year, the highest in the world.

According to the United Nations State of Food Security Report 2024, Pakistan is the only country in the South Asian region where the prevalence of under-nourishment has increased (from 17 percent in 2004-2006 to 21 percent in 2021-2023) over the last two decades. In other regional countries, including Afghanistan, it has decreased. The report says 45 percent of the population is either severely or moderately food insecure in Pakistan.

Food loss covers losses from the post-harvest stage till it reaches the retail market, basically the supply side. In contrast, food waste refers to ready food discarded at the retail and consumer level, the demand side. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, approximately 13 percent of food is lost between harvest and retail and an estimated 19 percent is wasted at the retail, food services and consumer levels.

Both food loss and waste are important. Food waste is becoming a bigger challenge in both rich and poor countries. It primarily stems from behavioural issues among end consumers. This includes leftovers, stale food and blemished fruits and vegetables. According to the UN Environment Programme, industrialised countries in North America, Europe and Asia waste 222 million tonnes of food each year. In contrast, the sub-Saharan Africa produces 230 million tonnes of food each year. This shows that sub-Saharan Africa’s food output is practically equal to the amount of food wasted by the world’s richest countries. Trends from the UNEP report also shows that food waste is much higher in urban areas than in rural areas.

Food waste includes food waste in households, food services and at retail level. According to the UNEP Food Waste Index 2024 report, all three combined came to 132 kilogrammes per capita per year, of which 79 kilogrammes per capita was wasted in households. Reducing food waste at household level, thus, can bring 60 percent more food back to the store.

To address the issue of food loss and waste, the Sustainable Development Goal 12, target 12.3 proposes a commitment to reduce food loss across supply chains and halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels by 2030. Food loss and waste, as definitions inform, are systemic problems, involving multiple stakeholders, often with different root causes and the supply chain stage in which these arise. Due to the complex and interwoven nature of the issues associated with food loss and waste, a collaborative approach and a fundamental transformation in food systems is required.

The challenge seems big but countries around the world are making progress in dealing with food waste. Significant reductions have been observed in food waste in the United Kingdom and Japan, where reductions of 18 percent and 31 percent have been achieved respectively, well on the way to delivering SDG target 12.3 by 2030. The UK and Japan have different ways to achieve change at scale.

Pakistan committed to reduce its food loss and waste in the National Food Security Policy 2018. An objective analysis of NFSP 2018 will show how much reduction in food loss and waste has been made. While the NFSP suggests specific measures to address the issues of food loss, food waste is not dealt properly with. Yet, a few encouraging initiatives have been taken in Pakistan which require mention here.

The Punjab government has enacted the Disposal of Excess Food Regulation 2019 that could be adopted by other provinces. It specifically deals with the food waste issue. Under this law, food-chains are required to donate their extra food to charities instead of throwing it away.

The key goal here is to avoid food waste for the segments of society that cannot afford it. A collaborative, agreed, self-determined ‘pact’ or agreement to act on food waste generated at various stages of the food system among various stakeholders including but not limited to the people, government, private sector, farmers, civil society organisations is required. Developing food recovery system for collection and distribution will have a positive impact. Other best global practices such as food banks, donation programme and leveraging technology by developing apps to ensure no left-over food goes waste and more importantly a behaviour change campaign can help improve the situation.

The writer works at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute. The views expressed are solely his and do not reflect the position of the SDPI. He can be reached at qasim@sdpi.org