In an op-ed by Shoumi Mustafa, a research coordinator at the International Food Policy Research Institute (in Dhaka) writes in Protho Malo (Bangladesh) that approximately a third of all food produced in the world in a year is lost or wasted in post-harvest operations (PHL). Recent estimates suggest that 1.45 crore (145 million) tons of food are lost annually in Bangladesh, enough to feed its entire population for three months. Counting food waste at the consumer level would only increase the numbers.
Mustafa suggests the formation of a Knowledge Bank. “The knowledge bank portrays the PHL profile for every agricultural product, helps identify pockets of problems, lists the recommended solutions, and allows a robust cost-benefit analysis for choosing the right investment.”
Read more about how a Knowledge Bank could reduce food loss and waste in this op-ed.
