Skip to content The food industry is a complex global network which provides consumable food products
to the world’s population. Manufacturing can be done by a small household, or it can be
done in factories by large machines. It has a critical role in societal development through
responsible practices. It has various impacts on the environment, health and world’s
economical situations.
The global food industry is vast and diverse, encompassing a wide range of products and
practices. It faces numerous challenges, including accurately meeting demand, which can
be unpredictable and varies widely across regions. Overproduction often leads to
significant food waste, which is a major concern for both environmental and ethical
reasons. Another critical challenge is the use of healthy and safe ingredients, a s
consumers are increasingly seeking nutritious options. The industry also requires
continuous research and study to innovate and address these issues, ensuring the
development of new products and technologies that align with consumer preferences and
sustainability goals.
Few Socially Responsible Practices:
Sustainable agriculture
Sustainable agriculture is the practice in which farmers find the right balance between
food production and maintaining the environmental/ ecological system. When practiced
correctly, sustainable agriculture uses less pesticide, industrial fertilizers, chemicals etc.
which in return causes less harm to our environment.
Ethical sourcing
Ethical sourcing in the food industry means every business decision in the supply chain of
food is taken in an ethical way. This includes fair labour rights and wages, safe working
conditions, procuring from the right kind of people who produce food with minimum or no
environmental harm and having business ethics. Businesses should have all the correct
certifications and rights to produce food products.
Nutrition and Health
Proper nutrition in food products is essential for the overall health and wellness of the
entire population. Today, there’s increasing awareness about the importance of reading
food labels before making purchases, which is a valuable habit. [link to Annapakshi blog]
Harmful food preservatives can have long-term effects on our health. While our bodies
may resist these impacts in our twenties, they often become more pronounced as we age,
particularly after 35. Food products made tasty with artificial chemicals can lead to habit
formation, making it challenging to avoid them. This is especially true for desserts, which
often contain higher sugar levels than recommended.
Waste reduction and food security:
Around One third of the food produced in the world is either lost or wasted in a year, i,e
around 1.3 billion metric tons of food. The world population needs around 3.7 billion metric
tons of food every year.
Food industry should take the right measures to overcome food waste like giving food to
food banks, food waste treatment etc. On a country level, few countries like South Korea
came up with fine based on the amount of food waste, which became very successful.
They can take help from technology to monitor food waste and plan the products
accordingly.
Community engagement:
People with similar interests often come together to achieve a common goal, and this is
true for food production as well. In our country, there are many local groups and online
communities dedicated to the responsible use of food products. Joining these
communities not only enriches our social lives but also contributes positively to the
environment.
Few of the communities are :
https://www.akshayapatra.org/
https://www.feedingindia.org/donate/feedingindia
https://robinhoodarmy.com/
All these become very important for the overall population health and wellness. In the
years to come, we want to save and protect our planet so that future generations can live
and continue the virtues of life with which we are blessed.
Annapakshi sources its food products from reliable and trustworthy partners, with
sustainable practices being one of our core values. Explore our selection of food products
through our mobile app, available on both Android and iOS. If you’re a food product seller
or organization sharing the same values, join us in making a difference.
