According to the UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Food Waste Index Report 2021, around 931 million tonnes of food go to waste yearly. This is equivalent to roughly 17% of global food production, out of which 61% of the food waste comes from households, 26% from food service and 13% from retail.

Reducing waste could have social, economic, and environmental benefits. According to a UN report, the UN Sustainable Development Goals aim to halve food waste by 2030, as between 8-10% of global carbon emissions are linked to unconsumed produce.

Quest International University (QIU) graduate in Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, Dr Kajel Kaur, who was crowned the new Miss Earth Malaysia 2022, is a strong advocate of the food waste problem. 

She has been very passionate about helping others since she was young. She has used her experience in public speaking competitions to create awareness about two issues close to her heart – excessive food wastage and feeding the strays. 

Watch this candid video created for World Earth Day, where Dr Kajel talks about making sustainable choices when throwing away food, and for society to have the heart to feed the strays.