United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh loses more than 21 million tonnes of food annually across the supply chain, from farms to dining tables, Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter said on Monday. She 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. Farida was speaking at a seminar titled ‘Towards Zero Food Waste: Building a Sustainable Food Supply System in Bangladesh’ held at a city hotel. The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), the Royal Danish Embassy in Dhaka, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Bank, and the World Food Programme (WFP) jointly organised the event. Dr Salehuddin warns against misinformation to safeguard economy Citing World Bank and WFP assessments, she said 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. “The government is trying to increase and ensure safe food production, but at the same time, a massive amount of food is wasted — whether it is milk, eggs, meat or fish,” the adviser said. She highlighted that indiscriminate fishing also contributes to waste. “When targeting hilsa and other species, fishing boats end up discarding nearly two-thirds of their catch back into the sea, causing serious damage to biodiversity and resources.” Anders Karlsen, Chargé d’Affaires of the Danish Embassy in Bangladesh, said globally, one-third of all food produced is wasted. “The land used to produce this wasted food is larger than China, and in the end, nobody eats it,” he said, stressing that along with food, agricultural land and greenhouse gases are also wasted in the process. “The best time to take action was yesterday. If not, then it must be today,” Karlsen urged. 5 new products to be included in TCB sales from Nov: Commerce Adviser 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 8–15% of paddy and 20–40% 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.

Zero waste is not just a trend; it is a movement towards sustainability and environmental responsibility. March 30 marks International Zero Waste Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about waste management and sustainable living practices. This concept extends beyond individual actions to encompass a holistic approach involving communities, businesses, and policymakers. What is Zero Waste and Zero Waste Movement? Zero waste is a philosophy aiming to eliminate trash. It is a lifestyle that focuses on minimising waste generation and resource depletion. It advocates redesigning resource life cycles so that all products are reused or recycled, leaving no waste to be sent to landfills or incinerators.  In 2008, the term "Zero Waste" primarily referred to industrial and municipal waste management methods. However, Bea Johnson, a French American adopted this concept for her household. By 2009, she began documenting her journey on the Zero Waste Home blog, gaining recognition when featured in The New York Times in 2010. Read more: Eight ways to overcome waste pollution crisis The zero waste movement promotes sustainable practices, such as reducing consumption, reusing items, recycling materials, composting organic waste, and refusing single-use products. By embracing these principles, individuals, communities, and businesses can contribute to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future, where resources are conserved, pollution is reduced, and ecosystems are protected.

Climate activists on Wednesday blocked roads leading to Germany's three biggest airports, gluing themselves to the ground before police arrived. Members of the group Uprising of the Last Generation said they wanted to disrupt cargo and passenger traffic at the airports in Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin. Read:French, German leaders to visit Russia, Ukraine amid tension The group has demanded that the government should take measures to end food waste. It argues that throwing away vast amounts of usable food contributes to hunger and climate change. Past protests involving the blocking of roads and ports have drawn criticism from officials across the political spectrum. The blockades are reminiscent of the protests last year by the climate action group Insulate Britain, which obstructed many main highways and roads in the U.K.

Instead of finishing your leftovers, you let them go bad and buy takeout.

More than 930 million tonnes of food sold in 2019 landed in waste bins, according to new UN research, released on Thursday, in support of global efforts to halve food waste by 2030. Produced by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and partner organization WRAP, the Food Waste Index Report 2021 reveals that between food wasted in homes, restaurants and shops, 17 per cent of all food is just dumped.