Op-ed: Cutting food loss and waste offers India a triple win
India grows enough food for 1.4 billion people. Why does so much of it rot before anyone eats it?
Published 29 September 2026. Written by Pratidin from the reports linked at the end; every fact checked by a separate review before publishing. How we work
Writing on the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, observed every year on 29 September, an article in The Hindu argues that reducing food loss and waste is a "triple win" for India: better food security, lower greenhouse gas emissions and higher incomes along the value chain. The article notes that although India produces enough food for its 1.4 billion people, considerable food is lost between the farm and the plate. The UN General Assembly designated the day through resolution 74/209 of 19 December 2019, and it was first observed in 2020. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that about 13% of food produced is lost after harvest and before retail, and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) reports that 19% of food available to consumers, about 1.05 billion tonnes, is wasted in retail, food service and households.
The article highlights that India is unusual in having run three national post-harvest loss surveys. The first, in 2005-07, was carried out by ICAR's Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology (CIPHET) on the recommendation of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture. The second, from 2012, was again by ICAR-CIPHET, sponsored by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, and covered 45 crops and commodities. The third, by NABARD Consultancy Services (NABCONS) for the Ministry, surveyed 54 crops and commodities across all 15 agro-climatic zones between August 2020 and May 2022. The article also argues that organic waste from wholesale markets can be converted into bio-CNG and compost instead of being dumped.
The fixes the article proposes are better storage, drying and cooling at the farm and market; digital traceability so that produce moves faster; redistribution of surplus food; and turning organic residue into compost or biogas. The article points to the FAO and the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) working together to facilitate finance for climate-resilient technologies. The argument links to SDG target 12.3, which asks countries to halve per capita food waste at retail and consumer levels and to reduce losses along production and supply chains by 2030. The op-ed's view is that India already has the data and the models; the task is to scale them. The harder questions it leaves open are who pays for cold chains in small markets and how to make waste conversion viable outside large cities.
Prelims facts
- The International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste is observed on 29 September; the UN General Assembly designated it by resolution 74/209 in 2019.
- FAO estimates about 13% of food is lost between harvest and retail; UNEP says 19% of food available to consumers is wasted.
- SDG target 12.3 aims to halve per capita food waste at retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along supply chains by 2030.
- India has run three national post-harvest loss surveys: 2005-07 and 2012-14 by ICAR-CIPHET (the second sponsored by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries) and 2020-22 by NABCONS for the Ministry.
- The op-ed calls food loss reduction a triple win for food security, climate and incomes.
Quick recall
- On which date is the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste observed?
- 29 September.
- Which UN General Assembly resolution designated the day?
- Resolution 74/209, adopted on 19 December 2019.
- In which year was the day first observed?
- 2020.
- What share of food is lost between harvest and retail, according to the FAO?
- About 13%.
- What share of food available to consumers is wasted, according to UNEP?
- 19%, about 1.05 billion tonnes.
- Which agency maintains the Food Loss Index and which the Food Waste Index?
- FAO maintains the Food Loss Index; UNEP maintains the Food Waste Index.
- In which years did India run national post-harvest loss surveys?
- 2005-07, 2012-14 and 2020-22.
- Which SDG target deals with food loss and waste?
- Target 12.3.
Prelims practice question
With reference to Sustainable Development Goal target 12.3, consider the following statements:
1. It aims to halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels by 2030.
2. It aims to reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses.
3. The Food Waste Index under this target is maintained by the World Food Programme.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only. Statements 1 and 2 describe the two halves of target 12.3. Statement 3 is wrong: the Food Waste Index is maintained by UNEP; the Food Loss Index is maintained by the FAO.
Use this in UPSC Mains: previous-year questions
Recurring theme: Food processing, post-harvest supply chains and food security
- How to use this
Use it to show the post-harvest loss problem the food processing sector must solve, India's data base for it, and policy and finance tools to scale solutions.
- India has run three national post-harvest loss surveys; the latest, by NABCONS for the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, covered 54 crops and commodities across all 15 agro-climatic zones (August 2020 to May 2022).
- The op-ed's fixes: storage, drying and cooling at farm and market, digital traceability, surplus redistribution, and converting wholesale market waste into bio-CNG and compost.
- Cold chain and processing support under PM Kisan SAMPADA Yojana, and FAO-SIDBI cooperation on finance for climate-resilient technologies, are routes to scale.
- How to use this
Use it to frame why supply chain efficiency for perishables matters: large losses occur between harvest and retail, and at retail itself.
- FAO estimates about 13% of food produced is lost after harvest and before retail; UNEP reports 19% of food available to consumers, about 1.05 billion tonnes, is wasted in retail, food service and households.
- The op-ed calls for digital traceability so produce moves faster, and better cooling at markets, gaps that any shorter, organised supply chain for perishables must close.
- How to use this
Use it to argue that hunger is also about what happens to food after production, supporting the view that availability alone is not the problem.
- The op-ed notes India produces enough food for its 1.4 billion people, yet considerable food is lost between farm and plate.
- FAO estimates about 13% of food is lost between harvest and retail; UNEP says 19% of food available to consumers is wasted; SDG target 12.3 seeks to halve per capita food waste by 2030.
- The op-ed calls loss reduction a triple win for food security, emissions and incomes, and proposes redistribution of surplus food alongside better storage.
Mains practice question
Reducing food loss and waste can serve food security, climate and income goals together. Discuss with reference to India's post-harvest supply chain. (150 words)
Model answer
On the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (29 September), an op-ed in The Hindu called loss reduction a triple win for India.
Why it matters
- Food security: FAO estimates about 13% of food is lost between harvest and retail.
- Climate: rotting organic waste emits methane; converting market waste to biogas avoids these emissions.
- Incomes: produce saved is income saved for farmers and traders.
Gaps in India's supply chain
- Weak storage, drying and cold chains near farms.
- Fragmented markets and slow movement of perishables.
- Organic waste in mandis sent to landfill.
Measures
- Cold chain and processing under PM Kisan SAMPADA Yojana.
- Digital traceability and faster market linkages.
- Surplus food redistribution.
- Compressed biogas and compost from mandi waste, supported by SATAT and GOBARdhan.
India's three national loss surveys give it the data; scaling proven models is the next step towards SDG 12.3.
The basics
Why this matters
Hunger and food waste exist side by side. UPSC asks about food processing, supply chains, storage and the SDGs, and this topic links all of them to climate change.
Loss is not the same as waste
The two words have precise meanings. Food loss and food waste happen at different stages, are measured by different agencies and need different fixes.
- Happens after harvest and before retail
- Causes: poor storage, drying, cooling and transport
- Tracked by the FAO's Food Loss Index
- Happens at retail, food service and households
- Causes: over-buying, spoilage, discarding edible food
- Tracked by UNEP's Food Waste Index
How big is the problem?
The global target
SDG 12.3 and its two indices commits countries to halve per capita food waste and reduce losses by 2030.
India's data and weak links
India has measured its losses three times, twice through ICAR-CIPHET and once through NABCONS for the Ministry of Food Processing Industries. Losses cluster in perishables, which is why Post-harvest losses and the cold chain matter most.
- 2005-07First survey, by ICAR-CIPHET
- 2012-14Second survey, by ICAR-CIPHET for MoFPI, 45 commodities
- 2020-22Third survey, by NABCONS for MoFPI, 54 commodities
Turning waste into value
What cannot be saved can still be used. Organic waste from markets can become compost or compressed biogas.
- 1Segregate organic waste at wholesale markets
- 2Digest it into biogas and purify it to bio-CNG
- 3Fuel for vehicles or industry; digestate as organic manure
- 4Manure returns to farms, supporting the next harvest
The takeaway
The op-ed's point is that India already has data, schemes and working models. The challenge is scale and financing in small markets and towns.
Go deeper
In one line: An op-ed in The Hindu argues that cutting food loss and waste would at once improve food security, reduce emissions and raise incomes, and that India has the data and models to do it.
Why it matters for UPSC
It covers food processing and supply chains (GS3), storage and marketing of farm produce, the SDGs and climate. It is useful for Mains answers on agriculture value chains and on circular economy.
The core idea
Food loss and food waste are different problems at different stages. The global target is SDG 12.3 and its two indices. India's biggest losses are in perishables, where Post-harvest losses and the cold chain decide how much reaches markets. What cannot be saved can become fuel through Compressed biogas and the SATAT initiative.
Numbers and dates to remember
- 29 September: International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste; resolution 74/209 of 19 December 2019; first observed 2020.
- About 13%: food lost between harvest and retail (FAO).
- 19%, about 1.05 billion tonnes: food wasted at retail, food service and households (UNEP).
- 2005-07, 2012-14, 2020-22: India's three national loss surveys (the last two covering 45 and 54 commodities).
- 2030: deadline for SDG target 12.3.
Where to go next
- Food loss and food waste: the difference and why it matters.
- SDG 12.3 and its two indices: the global target and how it is measured.
- Post-harvest losses and the cold chain: where India loses most and what schemes do.
- Compressed biogas and the SATAT initiative: turning market waste into fuel.
Go deeper: can India scale what works?
The case made by the op-ed. India has rare, repeated national data on losses, which few developing countries have. It points to partners such as the FAO and SIDBI to finance climate-resilient technology. Reducing loss adds supply without new land or water, cuts methane and raises incomes. Progress on SDG 12.3 and its two indices would also strengthen India's climate commitments.
The difficulties. Cold chains are costly to build and run in small markets with unreliable power, which is why Post-harvest losses and the cold chain remain concentrated in fruits, vegetables and fish. Farmers with small lots cannot easily afford storage. Waste-to-energy plants need steady, segregated feedstock and assured buyers; schemes such as Compressed biogas and the SATAT initiative help by assuring buyers, but plants still depend on reliable supply. Household and hotel waste, on the other side of Food loss and food waste, needs behaviour change, not just infrastructure.
What could work. Farmer producer organisations pooling produce for shared storage; mandi-level segregation linked to biogas plants; digital traceability to reduce time in transit; and rules that make surplus food donation easy and safe. The op-ed's framing, a triple win, is a useful Mains structure: food security, climate, and incomes.
Food loss and food waste
Two different problems at two ends of the food chain.
In one line: Food loss happens between harvest and retail; food waste happens at retail, in restaurants and in homes.
The difference
Food loss is caused by weak harvesting, threshing, drying, storage, packaging and transport. It mostly affects producers and is closely tied to the quality of rural infrastructure. Food waste is caused by decisions of retailers, food businesses and consumers: over-ordering, strict cosmetic standards, spoilage at home and discarding edible food. The FAO estimates about 13% of food is lost after harvest and before retail, and UNEP estimates 19% of food available to consumers is wasted.
Why it is in the news
The International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste falls on 29 September, and The Hindu's op-ed used it to argue that India can gain on food security, climate and incomes by acting on both.
Where to go next
SDG 12.3 and its two indices
The global target on food loss and waste and how it is tracked.
In one line: SDG target 12.3 aims, by 2030, to halve per capita global food waste at retail and consumer levels and to reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses.
How it is measured
The target has two indicators. The Food Loss Index, maintained by the FAO, tracks losses from the farm up to, but not including, retail. The Food Waste Index, maintained by UNEP, tracks waste in retail, food service and households. UNEP's Food Waste Index Report 2024 gave the 1.05 billion tonnes estimate for food wasted. Goal 12 as a whole is about sustainable consumption and production.
Why it is in the news
The op-ed highlights India's three national post-harvest loss surveys. The day on 29 September is the UN's annual reminder of this target.
Where to go next
Post-harvest losses and the cold chain
Where India loses the most food, and what schemes do about it.
In one line: Post-harvest losses are highest in perishable produce such as fruits, vegetables, fish and milk, and a cold chain (refrigerated storage and transport from farm to market) is the main defence.
India's measurement
India has run three national surveys of post-harvest losses: 2005-07 and 2012-14 by ICAR-CIPHET (the second sponsored by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, 45 commodities) and 2020-22 by NABCONS for the Ministry (54 commodities). The op-ed says few countries measure losses this regularly.
Main schemes
Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana, an umbrella scheme of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries approved in 2017, funds integrated cold chains, processing units and agro-processing clusters. Operation Greens began with tomato, onion and potato (TOP) to smooth supply and prices and was later widened to more fruits and vegetables. The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund offers credit support for post-harvest infrastructure such as warehouses and cold stores.
Why it is in the news
The op-ed calls for better storage, drying and cooling and for digital traceability so produce moves faster.
Where to go next
Compressed biogas and the SATAT initiative
Turning market and farm waste into fuel.
In one line: Compressed biogas (CBG, or bio-CNG) is purified biogas made from organic waste, and the SATAT initiative encourages its production by assuring buyers.
How it works
Organic waste such as vegetable scraps, crop residue and cattle dung is broken down by microbes without oxygen in a digester. This produces biogas, mostly methane and carbon dioxide. Removing carbon dioxide and impurities gives a gas similar to CNG that can run vehicles. The leftover slurry can be used as organic manure.
The policy push
SATAT (Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation) was launched in 2018 by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Under it, oil marketing companies offer to buy CBG from plants. The GOBARdhan scheme supports waste-to-wealth projects in villages.
Why it is in the news
The op-ed argues that organic waste from wholesale markets should be converted into bio-CNG and compost rather than dumped.
Where to go next
Prelims-style quiz
Consider the following statements:
1. Food loss refers to food lost after harvest and before it reaches retail.
2. Food waste refers to food discarded at retail, food service and household levels.
3. Both are measured by a single global index maintained by the FAO.
How many of the statements given above are correct?- Only one
- Only two
- All three
- None
Show answer
Answer: (b) Only two. Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong: the FAO maintains the Food Loss Index and UNEP the Food Waste Index.
Consider the following statements about the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste:
1. It is observed on 29 September.
2. It was designated by the UN General Assembly in 2019.
3. It was first observed in 2015 along with the adoption of the SDGs.
How many of the statements given above are correct?- Only one
- Only two
- All three
- None
Show answer
Answer: (b) Only two. Statements 1 and 2 are correct (resolution 74/209 of 19 December 2019). Statement 3 is wrong: the day was first observed in 2020.
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: Converting organic waste from wholesale markets into compressed biogas can reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Statement-II: Organic waste dumped in open landfills decomposes and releases methane.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?- Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
- Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
- Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
- Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
Show answer
Answer: (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I. Both are correct, and Statement-II explains Statement-I: diverting waste from dumps avoids methane, and the biogas can replace fossil fuel.
The SATAT initiative, launched in 2018, is related to which one of the following?
- Solar pumps for farmers
- Procurement of compressed biogas by oil marketing companies
- Storage of foodgrains in steel silos
- Sale of surplus food by restaurants
Show answer
Answer: (b) Procurement of compressed biogas by oil marketing companies. SATAT (Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation) encourages compressed biogas plants by assuring purchase of their output by oil marketing companies.
Consider the following statements:
1. Operation Greens was first launched to stabilise the supply and prices of tomato, onion and potato.
2. Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana is implemented by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2. Both are correct. Operation Greens began with tomato, onion and potato (TOP) and was later widened; PM Kisan SAMPADA Yojana, an umbrella scheme including cold chain infrastructure, is run by MoFPI.