The Impact of Food Wastage, Access and Availability on Economic Growth: A Study of BRICS Countries

Abstract

This research paper investigates the impact of food wastage, access, and availability on economic growth in 10 BRICS countries—Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates—a mix of Emerging Market and Developing Economies (EMDEs) and Advanced Economies (AEs). These nations face challenges related to food variables, affecting both health and economic performance. In this panel data study, the selected independent variables include food wastage (disaggregated into retail, out of home consumption, and household), food access, and food availability, with economic growth as the dependent variable. Through a random effects regression analysis, the findings reveal that total food wastage and food access have a significant positive impact on economic growth, with higher household-level food waste and increased prevalence of undernourishment correlating with higher GDP growth rates, indicating that even with rising food wastage and limited food access, economic value is being built into high-waste sectors in the short run. In contrast, food availability, as measured by average protein supply, exhibits no impact on economic growth. These findings have important implications for policymakers in BRICS countries. They address food insecurity and require inclusive growth that ensures access to nutrition while minimizing waste. Policymakers can use these insights to develop public campaigns on portion planning, composting, and food redistribution through NGOs or apps that can reduce waste without limiting consumption. To align development with sustainability, policymakers should integrate measures like green GDP and track undernourishment alongside economic indicators. This may involve strategies to strengthen local food production and social safety nets, building resilience and ensuring long-term, food-secure growth.