Estimated 931 mn tonnes of food wasted globally in 2019; India’s share 68 mn: UN

Nairobi: An estimated 931 million tonnes of food, or 17 per cent of total food available to consumers in 2019, went into the waste bins of households, retailers, restaurants and other food services, a new UN research said on Thursday.
The study was conducted to support global efforts to halve food waste by 2030.
The weight roughly equals that of 23 million fully-loaded 40-tonne trucks — bumper-to-bumper — enough to circle the earth seven times.
The Food Waste Index Report 2021 from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and partner organization WRAP looks at food waste that occurs in retail outlets, restaurants and homes — counting both food and inedible parts like bones and shells.
The report presents the most comprehensive food waste data collection, analysis and modelling to date, and offers a methodology for countries to measure food waste. A total of 152 food waste data points were identified in 54 countries.
The report finds that in nearly every country that has measured food waste, it was substantial, regardless of income level.