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Rabat – The UN shed some much-needed light on the food waste crisis during the International Day of Zero Waste on March 30.
UN Secretary General António Guterres said during a speech that the Food Waste Breakthrough and No Organic Waste initiatives can halve food waste by 2030 and cut methane emissions by up to 7%.
Food waste is a major contributor of climate change, contributing up to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions – nearly five times the total emissions from the aviation sector.
Guterres also urged that these efforts will reduce food insecurity and save up to one trillion US dollars.
While 28% of the world population experiences moderate to severe food insecurity, “everyday, we throw away enough to prepare 1 billion meals,” Guterres said.
Food waste globally
Approximately 1.3 billion tons – one-third of all food produced for humans – is lost or wasted every year.
In 2024, China’s annual food waste amounted to 108 million tons, or 76 kilograms per person.
The US wastes 24 million tons annually, or 71 kilograms per person.
Egypt ranks among the highest per capita food waste with 18 million tons total, and 115 kilograms per person.
Moroccan households discarded around 4.2 millions tons of food in 2022, or 113 kilograms per person.
Effects of conflict in the Middle East
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) published a warning earlier this month about the threat escalations in the Middle East pose to food insecurity globally in 2026.
According to the findings, approximately 45 million more people could face acute hunger if the conflict does not end by the middle of the year and if oil prices remain above $100 per barrel. This is on top of the 318 million people around the world already facing food insecurity.
The WFP predicts a similar effect to that seen at the start of Russia’s war on Ukraine which triggered a cost of living crisis and a record level of food insecurity, impacting 349 million people.
“If this conflict continues, it will send shockwaves across the globe, and families who already cannot afford their next meal will be hit the hardest,” said WFP Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer Carl Skau. “Without an adequately funded humanitarian response, it could spell catastrophe for millions already on the edge.”
A 14% increase is predicted in the Middle East and North Africa, 5.2 million people could be pushed into acute food insecurity. West and Central Africa could see a 21% increase with an additional 10.4 million people at risk.
East and Southern Africa are likely to face some of the largest consequences with a 17% increase and 17.7 million people impacted.
Countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia are the most vulnerable due to their reliance on food and fuel imports. In drought stricken Somalia, the price of some commodities has already risen by at least 20% since the conflict began.
The WFP emphasized that sweeping funding cuts have severely limited their ability to assist.
Zero waste initiatives
On the International Day of Zero Waste, the UN urged global and individual accountability.
The speech encouraged consumers to make small changes, as around 60% of global food waste, 63 million tons, occurs at the household level.
Food loss is mainly caused by lack of proper storage, cold chain, handling, infrastructure, packaging or efficient marketing systems.
Guterres recommended retailers optimize operations and redistribute additional food, with cities scaling organic waste separation and coordinating deliveries to schools and hospitals.
On a broader scale, the UN implored governments to make systemic changes by including minimizing food waste as an action point in their climate and biodiversity plans.
The program acknowledged that complete elimination is unlikely, but also points to the ability to turn this waste into a renewable energy source, which would also create jobs.
Organic waste currently makes up 30-60% of waste, depending on the country. UN climate initiatives push for boosting degrading soils and reducing farmer’s reliance on fertilizers. The price and availability of fertilizers has also been impacted by conflict in the Middle East with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, where one-third of seaborne fertilizer passes through.
While the drivers of food waste and populations bearing the brunt of the consequences are largely uneven, the UN stresses the need for widespread action.
“The world wastes an unforgivable amount of food each year, in every country, rich and poor,” said Inger Andersen, UN Environmental Program Executive Director.
“Together, let’s build the zero-waste food systems we need to nourish both people and the planet,” implored Guterres.
Read also: World Faces Hottest 11 Years on Record as Climate Inequality Deepens
