The food processing industry in India has called on the government to include water auditing in university courses. They believe that teaching future generations about sustainable water use is essential, given the increasing global concerns about water scarcity. This initiative aims to make “water budgeting a standard practice” in education.
Two prominent organizations representing India’s food processing industry, including companies like McDonald’s, Tata Consumer, and Ferrero, along with the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM), have written to the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, suggesting the need to educate future generations in water budgeting.
They propose that food technology courses in universities should consider adding water auditing to their curricula. This addition would help address the global concern of decreasing water resources by improving the sustainability of water use.
A recent report by Down To Earth magazine revealed that India wastes a massive 49 billion litres of water daily, making it one of the top 10 countries with the highest water waste.
To encourage responsible water use, the government could offer incentives to food processing companies. Managing water waste has become a critical sustainability objective for major companies in India, such as Nestle, Hindustan Unilever, and Coca-Cola. Shareholders and environmentalists are increasingly scrutinizing companies’ water usage and its impact on the environment.
The recommendations by IFBA and NIFTEM propose practices like water budgeting, auditing, and rating to enhance the sustainable use of water in the food industry. They also suggest linking water consumption to financial incentives through audits and ratings, which could motivate food companies to be more proactive in reviewing their production methods.
Furthermore, these recommendations highlight the importance of declaring water usage and sustainability targets in annual reports, which could become effective water management and monitoring practices.
The food processing sector is expected to reach a value of $1.5 trillion by 2047, according to the IFBA. Water budgeting, auditing, and rating systems for companies could significantly contribute to more sustainable water usage. Both organizations recommend partnership models between the industry, educational institutions, and the government to build consumer trust, promote the growth of the food processing sector, and introduce digitization to further sustainable objectives like water management.