India, one of the world’s largest food producers, faces a painful paradox,while millions of citizens go hungry, millions of tonnes of food are thrown away. The UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2024 reveals that India wasted 78.2 million tonnes of food in 2022, making it the second-largest food-wasting nation after China. This crisis reflects both a social and environmental emergency.
The world wasted 1.05 billion tonnes of food in 2022, with 60% occurring in households. In India alone, every person wastes about 55 kg of food per year. Most of this happens not in factories or markets, but in our homes, leftovers forgotten in fridges or meals cooked in excess.
This waste equals ₹50,000–₹92,000 crore annually, which is nearly 1% of India’s GDP and represents not just lost money, but lost meals for millions.
Even as India wastes vast quantities of food, over 20 crore Indians go to bed hungry and 194 million lack enough to eat. The country ranks 111th out of 125 in the Global Hunger Index 2024.
The food we throw away daily could easily feed those in need. It’s a moral tragedy and a glaring social injustice in a nation that values food deeply in its culture.
The importance of avoiding waste is also emphasised in various religious teachings. The verse in the Qur’an (7:31) is a directive to enjoy the wholesome food and drink provided by God without going to extremes or being wasteful. It highlights that extravagance and wastefulness are disliked by God. This reminds us that gratitude and moderation are sacred values. Food should be respected as a divine blessing, not taken for granted.
Food waste is not just a social issue, it’s also a climate crisis. Rotting food in landfills emits methane, a gas 80 times more harmful than CO₂. Globally, food waste accounts for 8-10% of greenhouse gas emissions.
Producing just 1 kg of rice requires 2,500 litres of water. So every grain wasted means wasted water, land, energy and the hard work of farmers.
The major causes of food wastage in India include
- Poor planning of meals and storage;
- Leftovers from celebrations, weddings and restaurants;
- Lack of awareness about the consequences of waste, and
- Inadequate food redistribution systems.
To achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12.3, India must halve food waste by 2030.
Every individual can help by:
- Buying only what you need;
- Planning meals and using leftovers smartly;
- Sharing surplus food after events; and
- Supporting food banks and NGOs.
Government and businesses must also strengthen food storage, transportation and donation networks to ensure surplus food reaches those in need.
In a nation that wastes nearly 80 million tonnes of food every year, no one should be hungry.
Food is not just a commodity, it’s a blessing born of sweat, soil, and sunlight. It’s time to rediscover respect for food as our ancestors once did. Combating food wastage is not only about saving resources, it’s about saving lives and restoring dignity to millions of Indians.