BD wastes 21m tonnes of food annually, worth 4pc of GDP: WB study

Business Report :

Bangladesh wastes nearly 34 per cent of its available food annually, resulting in major economic, environmental, and social consequences, including the use of 27 per cent of the country’s land for food that is never consumed, 13 per cent of its greenhouse gas emissions, and a value equivalent to 4 per cent of the nation’s GDP, according to a World Bank study shared at a national conference in Dhaka on Monday.

Citing World Bank and WFP assessments, about 15.5 to 16 million people in Bangladesh still suffer from acute food insecurity, a situation likely to persist until the end of 2025.

Presenting the World Bank findings, Son Than Vho, senior agriculture specialist of the global lender, said food loss and waste (FLW) also contribute significantly to climate change, accounting for 13 percent of the country’s total greenhouse gas emissions, or around 29 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent.

The findings were shared yesterday at the conference “Towards Zero Food Waste and Loss: Building a Sustainable Food Value Chain in Bangladesh” organized by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) at the city hotel in partnership with the Embassy of Denmark, FAO, the World Bank, and WFP.

Speaking at the seminar, Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter said Bangladesh loses more than 21 million tonnes of food annually across the supply chain, from farms to dining tables.
She also said the absence of proper storage facilities, poor price management and inadequate infrastructure are the main reasons behind such massive food losses, despite farmers’ hard work in production.

FAO Deputy Representative Dia Sanou explained the local and global impacts of food waste.
“The world produces enough food to feed 1.5 times the global population, yet due to poor distribution, weak infrastructure and, most importantly, food waste, hunger and malnutrition persist. Despite having surpluses, the most vulnerable people still go without adequate food,” he said.

WFP Bangladesh Deputy Country Director Jesse Wood said studies reveal that 8-15per cent of paddy and 20-40per cent of fruits and vegetables are wasted after harvest, with an estimated financial loss of $2.4 billion annually.

He noted that despite being a major producer of vegetables, fish and other essentials, Bangladesh still imports these items due to inadequate storage and cold-chain facilities.
“This is a missed opportunity for both farmers and the economy,” he added.

CPD Executive Director Dr Fahmida Khatun pointed to the environmental costs, saying, “When we waste food, we also deplete scarce environmental resources. As one of the most climate-vulnerable countries, Bangladesh must prioritise reducing food waste.”
Government officials, private sector innovators, experts and development partners attended the seminar and stressed the need for having effective strategies to minimise food wastes in Bangladesh.