Food loss, waste grow amid shortage – New Age BD

Report on Food Loss and Waste in Bangladesh and its Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

Bangladesh is experiencing significant challenges with post-harvest food loss and consumer-level food waste, undermining progress towards key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). A recent World Bank report indicates that one-third of all food produced in the country is lost, incurring an economic cost equivalent to over 4% of the GDP. This issue also has severe environmental consequences, contributing to 13% of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions, directly conflicting with SDG 13 (Climate Action). The primary causes identified are inadequate food processing infrastructure and a lack of food waste recycling initiatives.

Analysis of Food Loss and Waste

Economic and Environmental Impact on SDG Targets

The scale of food loss and waste presents a substantial barrier to sustainable development. The economic repercussions are significant, with losses amounting to a value greater than 4% of a $450 billion GDP. Environmentally, the impact is equally alarming:

• Food losses are responsible for 13% of the country’s total greenhouse gas emissions, hindering efforts under SDG 13 (Climate Action).
• The inefficiency reduces the productivity of a quarter of Bangladesh’s arable land, impacting SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Post-Harvest Losses: A Challenge to SDG 12.3

A 2021 study by Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) highlights the severity of post-harvest losses, which directly contravenes SDG Target 12.3, aiming to halve food loss along production and supply chains. Key findings include:

• Cereals: Paddy loss averages 23-28%, with 17.80% occurring during the post-harvest period.
• Fruits: Post-harvest losses for mangoes are 22.3% and for bananas, 20.3%.
• Vegetables: Losses for tomatoes are 27.8%, carrots 20.6%, and potatoes 14.8%.

This wastage necessitates food imports, such as the recent government approval to import 100,000 tonnes of rice, to stabilise domestic prices, underscoring the strain on national food security.

Consumer-Level Food Waste

At the consumption level, the situation is also critical. The UN Environment Programme’s Food Waste Index Report 2024 reveals that Bangladesh’s per capita food waste has risen to 82 kilograms, up from 61 kilograms in 2021. This rate surpasses that of several high-income countries, including the United States (73 kg) and Japan (60 kg), indicating a failure to promote responsible consumption patterns as outlined in SDG 12.

Contributing Factors and Infrastructure Deficiencies

Lack of Agro-Processing and Cold Chain Infrastructure

A primary driver of food loss is the severe deficit in infrastructure, a key component of SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).

1. Processing Plants: A lack of facilities forces farmers to dump produce like tomatoes during peak seasons, while the market is supplied with imported processed goods such as canned juices and jackfruit chips.
2. Cold Storage: The country possesses approximately 400 cold storages, but the vast majority are dedicated to potatoes, leaving other perishable items like fruits, fish, and spices vulnerable to spoilage.
3. Investment Focus: Investment in the agricultural sector remains overwhelmingly concentrated on production, with negligible funding allocated to post-harvest technology, processing, and cold chain systems.

Undeveloped Food Recycling Systems

Bangladesh has not developed modern food recycling solutions, which are crucial for a circular economy and achieving SDG 12. Traditional methods like composting and emerging industrial solutions such as biogas and biodiesel production from waste are not widely implemented, leading to greater waste and missed economic opportunities.

Implications for Achieving Zero Hunger (SDG 2)

Food Security and Malnutrition

The high rate of food loss directly impacts national food security and exacerbates hunger, undermining SDG 2 (Zero Hunger). The consequences are evident in recent social and health indicators:

• A survey by the Power and Participation Research Centre found that 12% of the poor were skipping meals and nearly 9% went a full day without food.
• Bangladesh’s ranking in the Global Hunger Index 2024 slipped to 84th out of 127 nations, reflecting a lack of progress in reducing undernourishment and child stunting.

Recommendations for Aligning with SDG Targets

To mitigate food loss and waste and advance towards SDG targets, experts recommend a multi-faceted approach focused on policy, investment, and private sector engagement.

1. Promote Agro-Processing Industries: Foster the growth of small, medium, and large-scale agro-processing initiatives across the country to add value to agricultural produce and reduce spoilage.
2. Invest in Infrastructure: Prioritise public and private investment in critical post-harvest infrastructure, including a diversified cold chain system for various food items, as per SDG 9.
3. Develop a Food Recycling Economy: Implement policies and technologies to support food waste recycling, including composting, biogas production, and biodiesel from used cooking oil, contributing to SDG 12 and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).
4. Incentivise Private Sector Participation: The Centre for Policy Dialogue suggests providing financial incentives and improving access to bank loans for private entrepreneurs to invest in food processing and waste management solutions, thereby creating economic opportunities aligned with SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • The article directly mentions achieving the “target of zero hunger of the sustainable development goals.” It discusses how food loss and waste undermine food security, leading to situations where “12 per cent poor skipping meals and nearly 9 per cent passing a day without food.” It also references Bangladesh’s poor performance in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) due to undernourishment and child stunting.
2. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • This is a central theme of the article. The entire discussion revolves around “food losses during the post-harvest period and food waste in the consumption level.” The article quantifies these issues, highlighting the need for more sustainable production and consumption patterns, including promoting agro-processing and recycling wasted food.
3. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The article establishes a direct link between food loss and climate change by stating that “Food losses account for 13 per cent of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions.” This highlights that reducing food loss is a critical climate action strategy.
4. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The economic impact of food loss is explicitly mentioned, costing the country “over 4 per cent of the gross domestic product.” The article suggests that promoting “small-, medium- and large-scale agro-processing initiatives” and “food waste recycling” can mitigate these economic losses and create new economic opportunities.
5. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • The article identifies a significant infrastructure gap as a primary cause of food loss. It points to the “absence of adequate food processing plants,” a lack of a “cold chain system,” and the fact that most of the existing 400 cold storages are only for potatoes. This underscores the need for investment in agricultural infrastructure and industry.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 12.3: By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses.
   • The article is fundamentally about this target. It provides specific data on post-harvest losses for various crops (e.g., tomatoes at 27.8%) and per capita food waste at the consumer level (82 kg per person).
2. Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people… to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.
   • The article connects food waste to hunger by citing a survey where the poor are “skipping meals” or passing “a day without food,” directly addressing the issue of access to sufficient food.
3. Target 2.2: By 2030, end all forms of malnutrition…
   • The mention of Bangladesh’s “lack of progress in reducing… child stunting” in the Global Hunger Index 2024 directly relates to this target on ending malnutrition.
4. Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development and human well-being.
   • The article’s emphasis on the lack of “food processing plants” and “cold chain” systems points directly to the need to develop the kind of infrastructure described in this target to support the agricultural sector.
5. Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.
   • By identifying food loss as a major source of greenhouse gas emissions (13%), the article implies that addressing this issue is a crucial climate change measure that should be integrated into national policy.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicator 12.3.1 (a) Food Loss Index:
   • The article provides specific data points that contribute to this index, such as the overall post-harvest loss range of 12-32%, paddy loss of 23-28%, mango loss of 22.3%, and tomato loss of 27.8%.
2. Indicator 12.3.1 (b) Food Waste Index:
   • The article explicitly cites the “Food Waste Index Report 2024” and provides the exact indicator value: “Bangladesh suffered food waste of 82 kilograms a person,” and compares it to the 2021 value of “61 kilograms a person.”
3. Indicator 2.1.2 Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population:
   • This is implied through the survey findings that “12 per cent poor skipping meals and nearly 9 per cent passing a day without food.” These are direct measures of severe food insecurity.
4. Indicator 2.2.1 Prevalence of stunting among children under 5 years of age:
   • The article directly refers to this indicator by mentioning the country’s “lack of progress in reducing… child stunting” as a reason for its slip in the Global Hunger Index.
5. Implied Economic Indicator (Relates to SDG 8):
   • The article states that food loss causes an “enormous cost, equivalent to over 4 per cent of the gross domestic product.” This percentage can be used as an indicator to track the economic impact of food loss over time.
6. Implied Climate Indicator (Relates to SDG 13):
   • The figure that “Food losses account for 13 per cent of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions” serves as a key indicator for measuring the climate impact of the food system and the potential benefits of reducing food loss.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: newagebd.net