THE government has of late been focusing on addressing food security issues by zeroing in on efforts to boost agricultural production and reducing the nation’s dependence on food imports.

Various policies and initiatives – involving federal government, agencies, government-linked companies (GLCs) and state entities – have been tasked to ensure that food security risks do not escalate further.

This includes measures to increase the land area for agricultural use.

However, any measures to address food security should include food waste.

Poor eating habits and food waste behaviours can be a serious threat to the national food security and sustainable development goal.

Malaysians are still wasting plenty of food, despite having to fork out more money for meals.

Consistently for the years from 2019 to 2021, total solid waste – including food waste – generated averages 38,000 tonnes a day.

Total food waste for the same period was 17,000 tonnes a day.

Some 13,000 tonnes are fruit skins and bones, while the balance of 4,000 tonnes is edible food, like leftover meat and vegetables, according to data from the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp).

According to SWCorp, the 4,000 tonnes is enough to feed 3 million people three meals per day.

The proliferation of restaurants, cafes and food stalls over the years reflects a trend where majority of the Malaysians now eat out at least one meal a day.

As a result, the hospitality and food service sector is now the biggest source of food waste in the country, overtaking households.

In fact, SWCorp, which regularly implements awareness programmes through its “Value Food No Waste” campaigns, complains about the continued indifference of Malaysians in planning their meals.

The reduction of food waste along the supply chain, from production to consumption, is essential to improve food security, while reducing pressure on natural resources, as stated for the sustainable development goals envisaged by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by the United Nations, to which Malaysia has pledged.

The agri-food systems consume large shares of water and energy for food production and supply chains.

Agriculture accounts for 72% of all water withdrawals, and food production and supply chains are responsible of about 30% of energy consumption.

Containing food losses and waste would help cut the use of resources, eg water, and energy used for food production, with benefits for the environment and for the status of food security.

Presently, food waste centres on the obligation of the individual to act, with the government relinquishing any responsibility to adopt measures that lead to food waste generation in the first place.

To reduce food waste, it is essential that the government adopts initiatives and consumer awareness campaigns, such as creating and incorporating environmental education courses into the curriculum for all disciplines in higher education.

Create a “zero waste campaign” for each household toward the establishment of a green environment for the country.

For example, AIESEC – a global platform for young people to develop their leadership potential through practical experiences of many kinds – launched two national projects: Speak Up and Clean Our Plate in 2021.

They have seen fruitful results in tackling the growing amount of food waste in Malaysia.

Considering the environmental, economic, social implications of food waste through time, it is imperative that the government looks into implementing a sustainable resolution of the growing food waste issue, adopts a sustainable production and consumption approach, and tackles food surplus and waste throughout the entirety of the country’s food supply chain.

Evidence-based analyses of the implications of food waste – identifying avoidable and unavoidable food waste – is crucial in the process of identifying the most appropriate options for addressing the food waste challenge.

Food waste is not a waste management issue. It is a food production and consumption issue.

Food waste disrupts the food supply chain making it inefficient, unequal and damaging to our environment.

The scale of the food waste problem in the country is really great and very little attention was paid to it, even there are significant opportunities for food waste prevention.

Especially when food unites – the “sudah makan” greeting is common here but at times divides the three ethnic groups.

The government seriously needs to address this together while addressing food security. – August 25, 2022.

* FLK reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.