Insights into the management of food waste in developing countries: with special reference to India

Abstract

Up to one third of the food that is purposely grown for human sustenance is wasted and never consumed, with adverse consequences for the environment and socio-economic aspects. In India, managing food waste is a significant environmental concern. Food waste output is increasing in Indian cities and towns as a result of the country’s urban expansion, modernization, and population growth. Poor management of food waste can have negative consequences for the environment and pose a risk to the public’s health issues. This review focuses on the current challenges, management strategies, and future perspectives of food waste management in India. The efficient management of food waste involves a comprehensive study regarding the characterization of food waste and improved waste management methods. In addition, the government policies and rules for managing food waste that is in effect in India are covered in this review.

Transitioning of petroleum-based plastic food packaging to sustainable bio-based alternatives

“…This process can be challenging due to the diverse sources of food waste, ranging from crop processing to household leftovers. 111 Efficient collection systems need to be in place to gather sufficient quantities of waste materials that can be used in material production processing. Then, once the waste has been collected, the waste must be separated into its various components.…”

From kitchen scraps to delicacies to food waste

“…The most common food waste treatment method in India is dumping/landfills (including illegal dumps and landfills) accounts for over 90% of food waste treatments. 97 Comparing anaerobic digestion, landfill, incineration, composting and heat-moisture treatments showed that landfill contributes most to climate change and is about 10 times larger than the other food waste management methods. 98 Existing and emerging solutions to reduce (packaging, distribution, inventory management, temperature control, increased produce shelf life, consumer campaigns and education, suboptimal food use, food sharing, and portion control), recover (donations, imperfect food redistribution, surplus food recovery networks, and upcycling/remanufacturing) and recycle (animal feed, anaerobic digestion, composting, incineration, disposal, biorefining, and biofuel production) food loss and waste have been summarized previously.…”

Definition of Food Consumption, Loss, and Waste

“…These differences can be mapped within the framework and integrated within it. The patterns may also change over time due to a crisis like COVID-19 [38], type of use [39], the socioeconomic development of society [40,41], and other factors. These changes too can be integrated within the framework.…”