How can reducing food wastage help us build a greener planet?

By Abilash Krishnaswamy, VP of Products, Culinary Digital

Food wastage is a significant issue India has been dealing with from time immemorial. Most individuals have a habit of throwing away food that has passed its "best before" or expiration date. The UN estimates that over 190 million Indians remain undernourished despite a substantial food supply. Further estimates place the annual cost of food waste in India at over INR 92,000 crores. In this regard, The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has launched the save food, share food, share joy initiative for the distribution of food that could be potentially wasted.

The primary problem for many developing nations, including India, is the optimization of packing process and the harvesting that food goes through before it reaches the final consumer. Gaps in the logistics supply chain result in significant food waste, which requires attention. With food waste being a global issue, India can make efforts to capitalize on it. Catering to this, there are a few pointers that one can adhere to:

Purchase smartly: We, as consumers, tend to purchase in bulk when we see products on sale. Citizens should be made aware that it is imperative to purchase only the desired amount of food that is needed, in order to avoid unnecessary wastage of this precious commodity.

Pack carefully: Waste from single-use plastic products is a primary industry concern. Retailers must embrace the usage of reusable, recyclable, and biodegradable materials and reevaluate their packaging systems. On a personal level, one can use handmade bags to carry while shopping instead of picking up plastic packets that need to be discarded in the future. Hotels can also cater to paper bags that supply food for home delivery.

Emphasize the value of healthy diets: For this change to take place, the general public must recognize the importance of organic and healthy foods. Although expensive, it is much more nutritious and helpful to one's body in the long run. Pesticides affect not only human life but also the soil, making it unfit to grow crops over some time. Hence we should start investing in quality food for better health and a better future.

Improve the standard of food output: The agricultural sector needs to use technology and innovation to achieve better yields and transition to healthier food. All of this needs to take place while preserving biodiversity while leaving little to no carbon footprint. The shift in the narrative won't be apparent at the local level until "healthy" items are made available in the necessary number.

Create transparent supply chains: The next change will be the development of transparent supply chains as forward-thinking businesses concentrate on sustainable sourcing and production. This would entail investing in sustainable fishing, farming, or material procurement. Industry leaders must examine their current procedures closely and find strategies to transform them into sustainable alternatives throughout the supply chain. Businesses must reduce transportation, eliminate animal testing, shorten supply chains, recycle unfriendly products, and cut emissions and waste.

The fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry relies mainly on consumer tastes. Still, the degradation of the environment itself is forcing businesses to strive progressively towards a sustainable environment and not just a directed consumer-led shift. FMCG companies should take responsibility for making the shift towards sustainability by emphasizing fresh, organic produce that is transported directly from the farm to the table. In conclusion, it is absolutely imperative that both the government and citizens work together in tandem to bring about the shift towards a healthy and sustainable food culture, both today and for future generations.