Achieving Zero Waste Through Improved Agricultural Policy
Food loss and waste is a global problem and an obstacle to achieving both efficient, sustainable agrifood systems and food security and nutrition for all. An estimated 15 percent of all food produced globally is lost or wasted every year. In Bangladesh, 25 – 40 percent of fruits and vegetables, including potatoes, onions, mangoes, and tomatoes, are lost each year. Loss and waste affect everyone along the food value chain, from farmers to retailers to consumers. These losses are a particular cause for concern as the Government of Bangladesh aims to achieve Upper Middle-Income Country status by 2031. Reducing food loss and waste is key if the country is to realize its vision and achieve agricultural sustainability.
Last November, the USAID Feed the Future Bangladesh Policy LINK Agricultural Policy Activity (Policy Activity) convened public and private sector experts and leaders to discuss how to achieve the government’s vision for agricultural growth. While the expert discussion did not focus on food waste specifically, the policy pillars under discussion—fertilizer, pesticide, agricultural mechanization, and irrigation—are linked to this issue. Addressing policy challenges in these areas can reduce food waste and loss while also furthering the country’s sectoral and broader economic development goals.
Effective fertilizer policy guidelines are critical for reducing the use of chemical fertilizers and promoting balanced soil management, particularly since three-quarters of soil in Bangladesh is estimated to be nutrient deficient. However, inadequate storage exacerbates this issue, leading to wastage and inefficiency. Therefore, addressing fertilizer storage is paramount as it not only mitigates wastage but also ensures a steady supply chain. There is significant potential for the private sector to augment storage capacities in key agricultural zones of Bangladesh. By encouraging the judicious use of fertilizers and promoting organic farming practices, proper policy frameworks can contribute to safe fertilizer use and promotion of innovations a sustainable approach to reduce pre-harvest losses caused by nutrient imbalances.
Similarly, a robust agricultural mechanization policy can push farmers to adopt technologies that enhance productivity, increase efficiency, and reduce crop losses. By some estimates, modern machinery—and the resulting improvements in cultivation and harvesting practices—could save farmers from losing around 25 percent of their yields each month. A strong mechanization policy could also empower the private sector—an important player in the agricultural equipment and machinery market—thus contributing to broader sectoral and economic growth.
Irrigation policy, too, can help reduce food loss and waste, especially as droughts and other climate change-related impacts lead to more frequent crop failures and other pre-harvest losses. Effective water management in farming has become even more important as the country’s groundwater reserves—around 32 cubic km of which is drawn annually, with 90 percent of that used for farming—are being stressed by low flows in rivers, reductions in wetland areas, and declines in rainfall. Strengthening the irrigation policy could mitigate these and other threats by promoting water-saving techniques, enhancing irrigation infrastructure, and improving drainage systems.
As these examples show, Bangladesh has an opportunity to put in place agricultural policy frameworks that bring it closer to achieving its social, economic, and environmental objectives. The policy frameworks discussed by experts in November can reduce food loss and waste, encourage private-sector engagement in the agricultural sector, and safeguard the environment. The Policy Activity-facilitated expert dialogue sparked discussions and paved the way for collaborative action on these issues, which, if addressed, can move the country closer to realizing its socioeconomic aspirations, including food security for all.