Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practices towards food waste management among Nigeria dwellers

Annually, approximately 40 % of food intended for human consumption is either wasted or lost, contributing to increased hunger and global food insecurity. Nigeria faces challenges related to food insecurity and diseases, which are linked directly and indirectly to food waste. Although food waste is a complex issue, proactive steps can be taken to reduce it. Most often, food waste occurs towards the end of the production chain, particularly during meal preparation and consumption. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the levels of knowledge, attitudes, and practices among households regarding food waste management in Nigeria. The aim was to identify the factors contributing to food waste generation, enabling the implementation of suitable corrective measures. A survey was conducted, engaging 401 households across six geographic regions of Nigeria, employing an online self-administered questionnaire. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 20, with significance set at a p-value of less than 0.05. The majority of participants were male, under the age of 44, and had tertiary education. Findings indicated that most participants demonstrated a good level of knowledge and moderate attitude and behavior, except regarding inappropriate waste disposal. Nearly all respondents (97 %) were aware that infrequent waste disposal can attract flies, and 95 % recognized that inadequate disposal can lead to diseases. A significant proportion (72.5 %) strongly agreed that sufficient knowledge of food preservation could reduce waste, while 71 % believed improper disposal of food waste harmed the environment. Analysis of the relationship between the three variables of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) concerning food waste management revealed a weak positive correlation. These findings emphasize the need for sustainable improvement in knowledge and awareness of food waste management to positively influence attitudes and practices.