International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste – 29 September 2026

What happened

The United Nations observes the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste on 29 September each year. The day focuses attention on reducing losses along production and supply chains and cutting consumer-level waste, which together undermine food security and inflate greenhouse-gas emissions.

FAO estimates that a large share of food produced globally is lost or wasted. India’s policy toolkit includes cold-chain expansion, the PM Kisan SAMPADA Yojana, Food Corporation storage upgrades, and behavioural campaigns under LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment).

Exam angles

• Food loss (farm to retail) vs food waste (retail/consumer)
• SDG 12.3 — halve per capita global food waste by 2030
• Links to methane from landfills and water footprint of wasted food

Practice MCQs

1. The UN International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste falls on:

   (A) 5 June
   (B) 16 October
   (C) 29 September
   (D) 2 October

   Answer: (C) – It is observed on 29 September.

2. SDG target 12.3 mainly addresses:

   (A) Outer space debris
   (B) Halving per capita food waste by 2030
   (C) Ending all tariffs
   (D) Ban on all plastics overnight

   Answer: (B) – SDG 12.3 targets food waste/loss reduction.

3. FAO is a specialised agency of the:

   (A) World Bank only
   (B) United Nations
   (C) WTO only
   (D) IMF only

   Answer: (B) – Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN.

Source: UN observances calendar; FAO food-loss/waste briefings.