The term Hidden hunger refers to a form of malnutrition when people get calories but lack needed nutrients like vitamin A or iron. In Nigeria, millions suffer from malnutrition even though food is wasted at a large extent. Reducing food loss and waste through support programs can be a huge game changer and the Lagos Food Bank Initiative is doing just that through programs that is focused on rescuing excess agricultural produce, strengthening nutrition and delivering foods to vulnerable communities.
How Food Loss & Waste Fuels Hidden Hunger
Nigeria loses a huge amount of its food production before it reaches the people, either through post-harvest losses or poor storage. Food loss and waste are not just economic or environmental issues but major drivers of hunger and malnutrition. Wastage means not just lost calories but lost nutrients. Perishable foods like fruits, vegetables, and legumes are especially vulnerable, and when they spoil, those micronutrients are lost.
Food loss and waste also make the price of food go up, with healthy diets less affordable for families with low-income levels.
The effects of food loss and waste extend to women and children, who are highly at risk of micronutrient deficiency. Hidden hunger shows up as fatigue, weakened immunity, and stunted growth, amid this isn’t because food is not available, but because foods with nutrients are unavailable.
The Hidden Benefit: Beyond Hunger Relief
Reducing food loss and waste has immense benefits for both society and the planet. It also directly affects the productivity of a people, which translates to the economic growth and development of a country like Nigeria.
- Environmental impact: Rescuing produce reduces food going to waste, which in turn helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions from waste decomposition, conserves resources used in production, and lowers post-harvest loss. ARP explicitly targets these goals.
- Strengthening food security: Consistent supply of surplus or rescued nutritious food helps buffer vulnerable populations during economic shocks (inflation, subsidy removal, etc.) LFBI has used food rescue in times of crisis to stabilize nutrition for many households.
Call to Action
- More investment in cold chain and storage infrastructure so that surplus produce doesn’t spoil before it can be rescued and redistributed.
- Policy support and incentives for food loss reduction (e.g., tax incentives for donors of surplus food, guidelines on food safety for rescuers).
- Stronger collaboration among farmers, markets, transporters, food banks, government, and the private sector to streamline rescue and distribution efforts.
- Public awareness and nutrition education so people value not just calories but nutrient quality—and understand how food waste connects to prevailing hunger.
Article written by Oyelude Bolu