According to the United Nations, an estimated 17 per cent of total global food production is wasted annually. In 2020, the Global Hunger Index (GHI) ranked India at 94 among 107 countries, which means only 13 countries performed worse than India when it came to meeting their population's food needs. As many people still sleep without eating enough every day, food waste remains a serious cause for concern. 

To create change around this worrying trend, the world celebrates International Day of Awareness on Food Loss and Waste Reduction every year on September 29. The day is used to remind both people and the private sector to be innovative and reduce the amount of food wastage, and ultimately build a resilient food system. The efforts by the United Nations are made through its Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which focuses on reducing hunger and improving nutrition.