New Delhi, Oct 25 (IANS): About 30-50 percent of food production is wasted globally with India's losses in poor harvesting methods and inadequate storage and distribution contributing significantly, said a report released Friday.

"Not Global Food: Waste, Want Not" by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers also highlights that in developing countries, wastage mainly occurs between the farm and the marketplace.

The report sheds light on the wastage of around 20 million tonnes of wheat in India each year due to inadequate storage and distribution systems.

About 40 percent of the country's fruit and vegetables production is lost between the farm and the consumer due to lack of cold storage, refrigerated transport and poor roads.

"The amount of food wasted and lost around the world is staggering. This is food that could be used to feed the world's growing population - as well as the nearly one billion people in hunger today," said Tim Fox, head of energy and environment at the institution.

"The reasons for this situation range from poor engineering and agricultural practices, inadequate transport and storage infrastructure to supermarkets demanding cosmetically perfect foodstuffs and encouraging consumers to overbuy through sales promotion offers," he said.

Fox will be meeting senior government officials from the union ministry of food processing industries, the National Centre for Cold Chain Development and the National Horticulture Board to discuss the findings of the study.

The institution called for action to be taken by business, governments and the general public to recognize the value of food, and work to cut needless food waste.