Sri Lankan scientists have revealed that households, restaurants, hospitals and farms across the country discard large quantities of food daily, despite growing concerns over food insecurity and rising living costs.

The findings were presented at a forum organised by the National Science Foundation’s Media and Event Management Division, under the purview of the Ministry of Science and Technology, at the NSF auditorium in Colombo last week.

Delivering a stark assessment of the crisis, Emeritus Professor K.K.D.S. Ranaweera observed that the modern world is now divided between “those who do not sleep because they are hungry and those who do not sleep because they are afraid of those who are hungry.”

Addressing academics, food science experts and media representatives, Prof. Ranaweera revealed that food wastage in Sri Lanka occurs across the entire supply chain even as many citizens continue to battle malnutrition and food insecurity.

Citing the United Nations Environment Programme Food Waste Index Report 2021, he said Sri Lankan households alone generate more than 1.6 million tonnes of food waste annually.

The destruction begins even before food reaches markets. According to data presented at the forum, wild animals including peacocks, monkeys, wild boars and elephants inflict annual agricultural losses estimated at between Rs. 17 billion and Rs. 20 billion, destroying nearly 31,000 metric tonnes of fruits and vegetables before harvest.

Massive losses continue after harvesting as well. Government statistics show that 19% of vegetables, amounting to 221,955 metric tonnes, and 21% of fruits, equivalent to 290,151 metric tonnes, are wasted every year owing to poor harvesting practices, rough transportation, delays, improper handling and the lack of adequate cold storage facilities.

Restaurants and social functions were identified as another major source of waste. Prof. Ranaweera disclosed that restaurants in the Colombo district alone discard nearly 110 tonnes of food daily. Lavish weddings and large-scale social gatherings, where food is routinely over-served, were described as a culturally entrenched contributor to the crisis.

Prof. Ranaweera said hospitals too have become significant generators of food waste. Forum participants revealed that a national hospital produces between one and four metric tonnes of food waste per day. In many instances, visitors bring several meal packets for patients, much of which ultimately ends up in garbage bins.

The household sector emerged as one of the most troubling contributors. According to figures presented at the forum, urban households waste food worth over Rs. 1,000 each week, while an average family discards around 34 kilos of food weekly.

Participants at the forum further cautioned that nearly half of the solid waste generated in the Western Province, much of it originating from the Colombo district, consists of food waste, placing severe pressure on already overburdened waste management systems.

The forum also featured presentations by Emeritus Professor Buddhi Marambe, Prof. Renuka Silva and Dr. Hiranya Jayawickrema.

NSF Chairman Dr Sudath Samaraweera and Director General Prof. Shiromi Perera were also present.

The scientists stressed that unless urgent measures are introduced to curb food wastage, strengthen storage and transportation systems and transform public attitudes towards food consumption, Sri Lanka could face a deepening food security crisis while mountains of edible food continue to be dumped daily.