New Delhi: South Asia is home to nearly two billion people, yet it loses up to 40% of its food before it reaches consumers. With rising climate risks, persistent undernutrition, and a growing youth population, the region faces a critical challenge and a powerful opportunity.
According to World Bank, the regional platform South Asian Policy Leadership for Improved Nutrition and Growth (SAPLING) recently held a special session at World Food India 2025 in New Delhi with support from the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI). Representatives from Bhutan, India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka attended, continuing the momentum from SAPLING’s June 2025 gathering in Sri Lanka.
The session, themed “From Waste to Wealth: Transforming South Asia’s Food Systems for the Future,” brought together leaders from public, private, and civil society sectors to spotlight how food processing and circular economy solutions are reshaping the region’s agri-food systems. The message was clear: turning waste into wealth is not just possible, it’s already happening.
Bhutan faces an annual loss of half its fruits and vegetables due to weak post-harvest systems. The country has revised its national food and nutrition security policy to include food loss assessments and cost-sharing subsidies for farmer groups, covering up to 70% of storage, transport, and packaging expenses. In Maldives, food waste comprises 60% of municipal waste. The government is integrating circular economy models into urban planning and food systems policy, exploring biotech and valorization solutions to reduce pressure on waste management systems and improve food security.
India processes only 12% of its agricultural output, far below the global average of around 30-40%. However, grassroots innovations are changing that. In Rajasthan, the Nilgiri Farmer Producer Organization connects over 750 women, with their custard apple processing center generating ?6.6 million in turnover and ?2 million in profit. S4S Technologies focuses on empowering women smallholders through solar-powered food processing and market linkages, impacting 300,000 farmers by preventing 100,000 tons of food waste annually and generating $45 million in revenue.
In Sri Lanka, food loss is estimated at 40% annually. Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe emphasized the country’s shift from a self-sufficiency model to a market-driven model, investing in digital platforms and AI-driven solutions to create new opportunities for youth and marginalized groups. The government is investing in climate-resilient crops, cooperative commercialization, and cold chain infrastructure to reduce post-harvest losses and improve market access.
Private sector innovation is also playing a crucial role in redefining waste. GreenPod Labs in India uses plant-based packaging to extend shelf life by 40-60%, preserving up to 25,000 tons of produce monthly. Vietnam Food valorizes shrimp byproducts, processing nearly 100,000 tons annually with a 95% extraction rate and 80% reduction in water use.
New financing models are helping scale successful initiatives. India’s National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) offers open-ended loans at 8-8.5% interest and a two-year moratorium for green projects. Public-private partnerships are making cold chains, storage, and processing infrastructure accessible to smallholder farmers across the region.
Behind the scenes, platforms like SAPLING help connect the dots, bringing together governments, innovators, and communities to scale solutions that work. The transformation is underway. The time to accelerate it is now.