Students at the Arabian Gulf University took part in an interactive quiz exploring the causes and impacts of food loss and practical ways to reduce waste in daily life, marking the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste.
Observed annually on September 29, the day highlights the environmental, economic and social impacts of food loss and waste and the importance of adopting more sustainable practices.
The quiz tested students’ knowledge while offering practical guidance on reducing food waste at home and in everyday life.
Environmental engineering assistant professor and Bahrain’s representative in regional working groups on food loss and waste for West Asian countries Dr Sumaya Yousif said tackling the issue goes beyond simply reducing the amount of food discarded.
“It also involves conserving natural resources, reducing emissions and environmental impacts, lowering production costs, enhancing food security and nutrition, and supporting sustainable development goals,” she said.
“Raising awareness among young people and university students is a key gateway to bringing about sustainable change in daily behaviour.”
Highlighting the scale of the challenge, Dr Yousif cited 2022 data from the United Nations Environment Programme showing that around 13.2 per cent of food is lost globally after harvest and before reaching retail, while a further 19pc is wasted at the retail, food service and household levels.
Households account for around 60pc of food waste, compared with 28pc from food services and 12pc from retail, with total food waste estimated at about 1.05 billion tonnes annually.
Food loss and waste are also estimated to account for eight to 10pc of global greenhouse gas emissions, underscoring the importance of using resources more efficiently and developing sustainable food systems.
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