International Workshop on Food Loss and Waste Prevention

Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, inaugurated the International Workshop on Food Loss and Waste Prevention in the South Asian Region today in New Delhi. 

• The workshop was jointly organized by The Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the Thünen Institute, Germany. Sushri Karandlaje emphasized the magnitude of the food loss and waste problem. 

Necessity of Saving Food Loss

• The need to save food is critical, with approximately 3 billion tonnes of food going to waste globally. 
• Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 aims to halve food losses by 2030. To achieve this, proven technologies and practices from developed and developing countries should be shared, and methods acceptable to society should be used to reduce losses and waste. 
• Sushri Karandlaje emphasized the importance of social organizations in raising awareness among various stakeholders and practising methods to minimize food waste.
• South Asia is considered as a major producer and consumer of food. It is our moral responsibility and economic necessity to reduce food loss and waste.

Solution: 

• The primary reasons for food loss and waste can be identified, 
• There are inefficient harvest and storage techniques which can be improved and managed. 
• Education and awareness among all the stakeholders can be initiated.
• The need for smart distribution and industry involvement can be preferred. 
• Additionally, the implementation of donations and food banks can also help in reducing food waste. 
• Furthermore, innovation in food packaging and consumer responsibility can play a significant role in reducing food waste.

About ICAR

• The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) comes under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare and it is an autonomous organization.
• It was previously known as the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research. It was established on July 16, 1929, as a registered society under the Societies Registration Act 1860 in response to the report of the Royal Commission on Agriculture. The ICAR is headquartered in New Delhi.