The No Food Waste NGO tackles food waste | Fusion - WeRIndia

In 2014, a simple yet insightful question from a young girl at a Coimbatore school prompted three engineering graduates to take a stand against food waste.

The girl asked them how food could not be wasted. This sparked the creation of No Food Waste, an NGO founded by Padmanaban Gopalan, Dinesh Manickam, and Sudhakar Marimuthu.

Their mission is to reallocate surplus food from weddings, restaurants, and other events to those in need.

The trio, graduates of the Government College of Technology in Coimbatore, initially conducted awareness campaigns in schools and colleges to educate students about food wastage.

However, after noticing the recurring wastage in weddings and other gatherings, they realized that awareness alone was not enough.

Thus, they began collecting surplus food and distributing it to the needy, starting with small amounts and gradually growing their efforts.

Their first initiative involved collecting surplus food from a housewarming ceremony, packing it with banana leaves, and distributing it to 52 people.

This modest beginning soon gained traction as more people started donating food, and organizations like the Rotary Club provided a vehicle for transportation.

Today, No Food Waste has expanded across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, distributing over seven to eight lakh plates of food per month.

Their efforts have not only reduced food waste but also prompted policy changes. The Tamil Nadu government, influenced by their work, created a state-level committee on food recovery.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) also introduced safe food donation provisions, thanks to the NGO’s advocacy.

The NGO is also leveraging technology to audit food waste, helping venues and institutions track and reduce unnecessary wastage.

Their impact extends beyond food distribution, as they actively raise awareness among wedding hall owners, hoteliers, and catering companies, promoting safe food recovery practices.

With their community kitchen in Chennai, No Food Waste is prepared for emergencies, like floods, ensuring that food is cooked and distributed where it is needed most.

Their work has not only fed countless people but also opened their eyes to the hidden struggles of individuals.

Through their dedication, these three engineers have turned a simple question into a widespread movement against food wastage. Thus, they are transforming lives and contributing to a more sustainable future.

Image Credit: Pravin Menon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_Typical_Indian_Thali.jpg