Food loss and waste and its relationship with world hunger

Yesterday was World Food Loss and Waste Day, a fitting moment to reflect on one of humanity’s greatest challenges in the coming decade: social inequality, with unequal access to food being a clear reflection of this issue.

Food loss and waste not only impact the environment and the economy, but they also have a profound effect on the fight against hunger. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), if just a quarter of the food wasted globally were recovered, it could feed the 828 million people who suffer from hunger worldwide.

A global contradiction

It is paradoxical that while a significant portion of the global population faces food insecurity, around 30% of the food produced is lost or wasted. This situation is particularly acute in developed countries, where food is wasted mainly at the consumption and retail stages, while in developing countries, most losses occur during production, transportation, and storage due to a lack of adequate infrastructure.

Causes of hunger and waste

There are several reasons that explain this contradiction:

• Inequality in distribution: although enough food is produced to feed the entire global population, its distribution is unequal. Large quantities of food are wasted in regions where abundance exists, while in impoverished areas, lack of access and resources maintains high levels of hunger.

• Inadequate infrastructure in developing countries: small farmers in developing countries often lack access to preservation technologies or efficient transportation, resulting in significant food loss before it reaches markets. This worsens food insecurity in vulnerable regions.

The impact on world hunger

Reducing food loss and waste has the potential to mitigate hunger. Food currently lost in the supply chain could be redistributed to needy populations. Additionally, better planning and management of food resources could free up financial resources that could be reinvested in food assistance programs.

The FAO and the World Food Programme (WFP) emphasize that the hunger problem is not just a matter of the quantity of food but of access. By addressing food waste, more food could be made available at affordable prices in markets where food insecurity is high, increasing access for the most vulnerable populations.

Solutions linking food waste and hunger

To combat both food waste and hunger, the following strategies can be implemented:

• Improvement of infrastructure in developing countries: investments in storage and transportation technologies can reduce losses at the production stage, increasing food availability.

• Redistribution of surplus food: supermarkets, restaurants, and producers can donate surplus food to food banks and charities that distribute it to people facing food insecurity.

• Public policies and legislation: the creation of laws that incentivize food donations and penalize mass waste can be a significant driver of change.

• Education and awareness: at the household level, campaigns promoting proper shopping planning and proper use of expiration dates can reduce food waste.

If food loss and waste are reduced, a crucial step can be taken towards a more equitable and sustainable food system. This would not only reduce environmental impact but also help address the paradox of hunger in a world that produces more than enough food. Achieving this balance is key to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 2: Zero Hunger, and tackling the pressing inequality between social classes, which poses a serious threat to global well-being.