Kathmandu: A recent report released by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has unveiled a staggering statistic: at least one billion meals are wasted at the household level across the globe every day. This equates to an average of 79 kilograms of food per person wasted annually, according to the Food Waste Index Report, 2024.

The report highlights that this amount of food waste, including edible items, could provide 1.3 meals daily for those suffering from hunger worldwide. In Nepal, household food waste stands at 93 kilograms per capita annually, while in India and China, the figures are 55 kilograms and 76 kilograms per capita per year, respectively.

"In 2022, the world wasted 1.05 billion tonnes of food, amounting to one-fifth (19 percent) of food available to consumers being wasted, at the retail, food service, and household levels," the report stated. Additionally, it noted that food waste generates an estimated 8–10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and occupies nearly 30 percent of the world's agricultural land.

The report identifies food waste as both a market failure, resulting in the disposal of over one trillion US dollars worth of food annually, and an environmental failure. It urges G20 countries to play a leading role in raising awareness about food waste, sharing knowledge, and fostering international cooperation to address this pressing issue.

Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP, emphasized the urgency of tackling food waste, stating, "Food waste is a global tragedy. Millions will go hungry today as food is wasted across the world. Not only is this a major development issue, but the impacts of such unnecessary waste are causing substantial costs to the climate and nature."

The report underscores the importance of addressing food waste at individual and systemic levels by setting targets and coordinating efforts accordingly. It calls for international collaboration among countries, both developed and developing, to effectively address this global challenge.