India, April 28 -- Chef Arjyo Banerjee, Chief Culinary Officer, Compass Group India

Food waste is no longer a side conversation. It sits at the intersection of climate risk, economic loss, and food insecurity. As per the Food and Agriculture Organisation, nearly one-third of all food produced is lost or wasted globally. At the same time, food waste contributes to 8 to 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions (United Nations Environment Programme).

India reflects this paradox sharply. We generate an estimated 68 to 78 million tonnes of food waste each year (UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2021), even as access to nutritious food remains uneven. Add to this the fact that almost 45 percent of fruits and vegetables never get consumed glob...