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Editorial

Bangladeshis annually waste 14.5 million tonnes of food

Create public awareness to reduce food waste


Bangladeshpost
Published : 01 Dec 2022 07:08 PM

Even though the world produces enough food to feed twice the world’s present population, the irony is that still there are billions of people who are malnourished. Worldwide, food waste is one of the prime issues threatening food security and Bangladesh is not an exception.

Food waste refers to food that is good in quality and fit for human consumption but that does not get consumed because it is discarded for many reasons. Food and food waste hasbeen an emerging global problem for the past few years. With accelerated economic growth and increasing production, food waste will be a matter of grave concern also in Bangladesh sooner or later. 

According to Bangladesh statistics bureau and United Nations data, around 1.45 crore tonnes of food are wasted annually in Bangladesh. Reportedly, more than 37 lakh tonnes of food is wasted every year during the journey from field to kitchen. The annual food waste at home hovers around 1.07 crore tonnes, as the total annual loss and waste amount to 1.45 tonnes.

Bangladesh needs to launch 

a national campaign with the 

goal to save food and use it 

wisely since a significant 

proportion of food is imported

 Bangladesh, being the ninth most populous and twelfth most densely populated country in the world will surely bear consequences of both food scarcity as well as food loss if food wastage problem is not addressed. 

Reports tell us that people in Bangladesh are wasting about 5.5 per cent of the total procured food. Of the total wastage, 3% is being made during procurement and preparation stage, 1.4 per cent during serving, and another 1.1 per cent from the plates.

Bangladesh needs to find ways to utilize the surplus food left by ordinary citizens to reduce the food waste stream. Though it is impossible to completely halt the food waste issue yet can be minimized significantly by creating public awareness through launching a sound campaign and the vibrant extension education programs on food waste. Reducing waste demands a change at both the personal attitudes and commercial viewpoints.

It is apprehended that because of being one of the most densely and highly populated countries in the world,  Bangladesh will face food scarcity if the problem of wastage is not addressed. 

Hence,  Bangladesh needs to launch a national, comprehensive campaign with the goal to save food and use it wisely since a significant proportion of food is imported. Also, necessary steps should be taken to encourage people to stop wasting food, not simply in the family, but in restaurants, hotels, schools, institutions, and universities.