Md.Toufique Hossain:  In emerging Asian nations, food waste management remains a major environmental challenge due to limited scientific knowledge and regulations. Bangladesh, a key producer of fruits and vegetables, faces significant losses due to inadequate processing, packaging, and conversion technologies. Addressing these inefficiencies is crucial for sustainable food waste recycling and a circular economy.According to the World Bank, “Every year, approximately 1.3 billion tonnes, or one-third of the world’s total food production, are lost or wasted, resulting in economic losses of about $1 trillion.”

Therefore, cutting food waste in the country is essential to improving food security, lessening the effects on the environment, and fostering sustainable development. Let’s now explore a quantitative analysis of the food waste situation in South Asian nations.

Table 1: Birds eye view of food waste statistics for Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka

Source: Data compiled by author from South Asia Monitor;World Population Review

Borgen Project;International Water Management Institute

Bangladesh’s strategy

Managing food waste is continuously evolving and confronts a number of challenges. Despite considerable progress, especially in metropolitan areas, the nation’s overall plan is still insufficient because of a lack of technology, awareness, and infrastructure. Second, Food waste in rural areas is frequently thrown away or allowed to degrade without any recycling or reuse initiatives. Initiatives like NGOs’ food recovery programs and composting are present in cities, although they are neither extensive or well-organized. Inadequate waste segregation at the source and inadequate processing technology to turn food waste into useful products like compost or biogas also impede major advancements. Third, “due to the lack of a value-adding option, food waste in Bangladesh is often used for landfilling, composting, and animal feed” (Ahmed, Z., Mahmud, S., & Acet, H. (2022). Circular economy model for developing countries: evidence from Bangladesh. Heliyon, 8:5.).Furthermore, there is room for improvement as the public and private sectors look more closely at environmentally friendly options such waste-to-energy facilities, biodigesters, and collaborations to recycle food waste into animal feed.

Moreover, approximately 5,000 tonnes of organic matter are produced daily by Dhaka’s fresh markets, according to a study (2022) by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). However, what is thrown away as garbage could be used effectively and prove to be a useful and renewable source of energy. The vast volume of food waste in cities might be converted into biogas using bio-digesters. Biogas is a blend of gases derived from various raw materials, including sewage, plant matter, manure, food waste, green waste, and agricultural waste.

In order to effectively address food waste, Bangladesh should concentrate on the following strategies:

• To transform food waste into useful resources, invest in cutting-edge waste conversion technology including composting, biodigesters, and waste-to-energy systems.
• Enhance Infrastructure: Create a strong waste segregation system, especially in cities, to guarantee effective food waste processing and recycling.
• Raise Awareness: Start nationwide initiatives to inform people, organizations, and communities about the advantages of minimizing food waste.
• Promote Cooperation & Collaboration: To increase food recovery programs and recycling activities, make government, non-profit, and private sector partnerships stronger.
• Enforce Policy: Put in place laws that penalize inappropriate garbage disposal and encourage environmentally friendly behavior.
• Utilize Waste for Energy: Make use of Bangladesh’s substantial food waste production to generate biogas, which is a renewable energy source.

By decreasing food waste, Bangladesh can improve resource efficiency, lessen its impact on the environment, and achieve SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). In addition to improving food security and supporting SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), efficient food waste management also helps achieve SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) by using food waste to produce biogas, which contributes to renewable energy sources. Food waste recycling can also boost local economies, generate employment, and lower waste management expenses, all of which contribute to a more sustainable, circular economy. Examples of these resources include compost and animal feed. Improving food waste management is therefore not only an environmental concern but also an essential strategy for Bangladesh’s sustainable development.

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Author is a Digital Finance Certified & Economist and Deputy Coordinator of the FinTech Unit at WAVE Foundation. The views expressed in this article are solely the author’s personal reflections and do not represent the position of the organization.. toufique @wavefoundationbd.org