Global Food Waste Crisis Threatens to Worsen Hunger Crisis

Addressing chronic hunger has created a need for comprehensive approach that targets the systemic drivers of food insecurity

The global food waste crisis continues to escalate, exacerbating the already dire issue of world hunger and straining valuable resources, according to the latest report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). An alarming 1.3 billion tons of food intended for human consumption are squandered annually, representing approximately one-third of all produced food worldwide. This squandered bounty could otherwise nourish the underprivileged and mitigate environmental pressures.

Consumer behavior, particularly prevalent in affluent regions, emerges as the primary culprit behind this wastage. Studies reveal that individuals in North America and Europe discard an average of 95–115 kg of food per person per year due to overpurchasing and subsequent disposal of excess provisions. As per the World Health Organization, the United Nations reported a staggering rise in global hunger, affecting as many as 828 million individuals in 2021—an increase of approximately 46 million since 2020 and 150 million since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This trajectory presents a stark departure from the goal of eradicating hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition by 2030, underscoring the urgent need for concerted action.

Addressing chronic hunger has created a need for a comprehensive approach that targets the systemic drivers of food insecurity, encompassing poverty, conflict, inadequate infrastructure, climate change, and inequitable food distribution. Measures to bolster access to nutritious sustenance, foster sustainable agricultural practices, fortify social safety nets, and confront underlying causes of hunger are imperative for realizing food security globally.