Bangladesh wastes 34% of food annually: World Bank study

Highlights:

• The wastage worth 4% of GDP
• 27% of farmland grows food that goes uneaten
• Food waste causes 13% of the country's greenhouse gas emissions
• 31% of people face food insecurity; 66% can't afford a healthy diet
• Nearly 30% of fish is discarded due to illegal nets
• Farmers suffer from poor storage, low prices, and distribution gaps

Bangladesh wastes nearly 34% of its available food annually, resulting in major economic, environmental, and social consequences, according to a World Bank study shared at a national conference in Dhaka today (29 September).

The study stated that more than 34,000 square kilometres of land — about 27% of the country's cultivated area — is used to grow food that ultimately goes to waste. The economic loss from this wastage is estimated at the equivalent of 4% of Bangladesh's GDP. 

Presenting the World Bank findings, Son Than Vho, senior agriculture specialist of the global lender, said food loss and waste (FLW) also contribute significantly to climate change, accounting for 13% of the country's total greenhouse gas emissions, or around 29 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent.

From fields to trash: The reality of food waste in Bangladesh

At the same time, 31% of Bangladeshis face food insecurity, while 66% cannot afford a healthy diet - highlighting the stark paradox of massive waste amid widespread scarcity.

The findings were shared at the conference "Towards Zero Food Waste and Loss: Building a Sustainable Food Value Chain in Bangladesh" organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in partnership with the Embassy of Denmark, FAO, the World Bank, and WFP.

According to the study, most food losses occur during production, transport, handling, storage, and processing, while waste is concentrated at retail and consumer levels. The net loss rates for key commodities are - rice (23%), lentils (27%), fish (36%), and mangoes (29%).

A Bangladeshi wastes 82kg of food a year at home – more than an American, Dutch, Japanese

Dia Sanou, deputy representative of FAO in Bangladesh, said paddy loss, including pre-harvest, stood at 23–28%, while post-harvest wheat loss averaged 17.6%. Losses for horticultural produce ranged between 17% and 32%, mango (31.7%), banana (19.9%), potato (21.8%), carrot (26.8%), tomato (27.9%), and red amaranth (16.9%). Tomato also showed a substantial 10% field loss.

Fisheries sector hit hard

Speaking at the event, Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter said nearly 30% of fish harvested in Bangladesh is wasted, mainly due to the use of illegal nets and indiscriminate fishing practices.

"People use illegal nets that trap everything, keeping only the fish they want and discarding the rest," she said, adding that nearly two-thirds of the catch from each vessel is thrown away, causing serious harm to biodiversity and natural resources.

Reducing waste is a must to protect people’s right to food security

She noted that while 16% of the population suffers from severe food insecurity as of April this year, inequality and overconsumption remain widespread. 

"Our farmers are producing, but they don't get fair prices or proper storage facilities. Finally, they are being forced to give up," she observed.

Call for urgent action

Moderating the event, CPD Executive Director Fahmida Khatun said food loss was a critical barrier to ensuring food security. 

Cutting waste more can make food security easier to achieve

"Despite remarkable growth over the last five decades, Bangladesh still suffers from malnutrition and undernutrition. Food distribution is unequal. That is why reducing food loss is crucial," she said.

Jesse Wood, deputy country director of WFP Bangladesh; Dr Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian, secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture; and Food Ministry additional secretary Mohammad Yasin also spoke at the event.