Experts at a seminar on Sunday said that food wastage intensified food insecurity and social inequalities, creating a significant divide between those who can afford to waste food and those who struggle with hunger.
At the seminar titled 鈥楽ustainable consumption: reducing food waste and loss for a greener Bangladesh鈥� organised by the Consumers Association of Bangladesh at Bishwo Shahitto Kendro in the capital Dhaka, they said that the disparity became particularly evident during periods of rising inflation, as escalating prices strained the budgets of low-income households, widening the gap between affluent consumers who discarded perfectly edible food and marginalised communities struggling to secure basic nutrition.
They said that approximately 12-32 per cent of food was being lost annually at various stages of the supply chain in Bangladesh.
Food loss occurs primarily during production, post-harvest handling, storage, processing, transportation, and marketing, while food waste typically happens at the retail and consumer levels, experts and market monitors said.
International University of Business Agriculture and Technology economics professor Golam Rasul presented a research paper, identifying that daily household food waste in urban areas varies by city, with 0.56 kilogram per capita in Dhaka, 0.48 kilogram per capita in Chattogram, and 0.44 kilogram per capita in Rajshahi.
At the consumption level, food waste is especially common in urban areas, restaurants and social gatherings such as weddings and festivals, the paper observed.
In his presentation, Rasul said that food waste aggravated poverty and hunger, as wasted food that could feed millions contributed to malnutrition, while the associated health risks led to the spread of diseases and pests, increasing public health burdens.
He mentioned that approximately 4 crore people in Bangladesh had been facing food insecurity, with one crore experiencing severe food insecurity.
While 36 per cent of children and 33 per cent of mothers in Bangladesh are malnourished, a significant quantity of food is wasted at various stages, from production to consumption, Rasul said.
He said that the environmental impact of food waste was significant, with urban areas in Bangladesh generating around 4 million tonnes of food waste annually, which results in approximately 10 million tonnes of CO2 and 3 million tonnes of methane emissions.
The research paper showed that approximately 10-15 per cent of rice was lost with each harvest due to improper drying and milling techniques, while losses for fruits and vegetables could reach around 20-40 per cent.
Fish and meat experienced significant losses due primarily to inadequate cold storage and preservation methods.
Economically, food waste results in substantial losses, as the resources wasted 鈥� land, labour, water, and energy 鈥� translate into economic setbacks for all participants in the food supply chain, the research said.
Rasul emphasised the need for collaboration among various stakeholders to address food waste, noting that consumers could minimise waste by planning meals, purchasing only what was necessary, and properly storing food.
He suggested that farmers should implement improved post-harvest practices to reduce losses during transportation, while retailers could enhance stock management, offer discounts on near-expiry products, and donate excess food.
Community awareness and initiatives are crucial to combating food waste, as engaging schools and youth organisations can foster sustainable consumption from a young age, the experts mentioned.
Rasul said that by fostering a culture of sharing and collective responsibility for food resources, Bangladesh could work towards reducing food waste and promoting sustainable consumption.
鈥楪overnment support is essential for promoting food waste reduction through policies and investments in infrastructure, such as cold storage,鈥� he added.
CAB vice-president SM Nazer Hossain said that despite Bangladesh鈥檚 substantial food production, a balanced diet and safe food were not being ensured for the consumers.
He also said that it was unjust for some people to waste food while others were struggling to secure it, and that this practice needed to be stopped.
Directorate of National Consumers鈥� Right Protection director Fakir Muhammad Munawar Hossain said that reducing food waste and promoting responsible consumption were essential to achieving the goals of 鈥榸ero hunger鈥� and 鈥榸ero poverty鈥� outlined in the sustainable development goals.
Bangladesh Safe Food Authority chairman Zakaria, Global Health Advocacy Incubator Bangladesh country lead Muhammad Ruhul Kuddus, acting CAB president Jamil Chowdhury and CAB treasurer Monjur-E-Khoda Tarafder, among others, spoke at the event.