Any knowledgeable expert agrees that food waste and loss must be reduced if we are to feed all people. And yet, what’s stopping us?
In traditional communities, little or no food is wasted. Every edible part of an animal or plant is used. Researchers found that members of a Maasai community of cattle herders in northern Tanzania were outraged at the thought of intentionally wasting food, calling those who would do so “crazy”.
Some have even said that it is worse than killing a person because murder leads to one death, while wasting food could lead to many.
The big question: How will the planet feed nearly 10 billion people?
Attitudes towards waste are very different in industrialized countries. The United Nations Environment Program estimates that 17% of total global food production is wasted and about the same amount is lost, meaning that about a third of the food produced is not consumed. The global average for household waste is 74 kg per person per year, and this figure is generally similar for low-, middle-, and high-income countries.
Many believe that reducing waste is essential to feeding the world. For example, the World Resources Institute opens its report on food waste and loss with the question “How will the world feed nearly 10 billion people?” and claims that halving food waste “would reduce by more than 20% the gap between food requirements in 2050 and available food requirements in 2010”.
Currently, the biggest impact of food waste is on the climate crisis. The UN program estimates that between 8% and 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions are associated with food that is not consumed, potrivit The Guardian.
As the saying goes: “If food loss and waste were a country, it would be the third largest source of greenhouse gas emissions.” In poorer countries, food insecurity increases and contributes to the loss of biodiversity, as a lot of land is used for cultivation without feeding anyone.
Why do we throw away food from refrigerators?
Once food reaches homes, waste is often the result of problems related to inadequate management practices, skills and knowledge. Many households find themselves throwing out the contents of a bag or box found at the bottom of a cupboard after their use-by date has passed.
The dates on the packages are very conservative, and if dry products such as rice or pasta are stored properly – in a dry place and in airtight containers – they can last long after the date on the package. But if you don’t trust knowing the signs of mold (discoloration, rancid smell, it can be risky to cook them.
Many people routinely cook more than is necessary for a meal and end up throwing a lot away.
Much of household food waste is the result of poor meal planning. But much of it can be attributed to a lack of basic awareness. Too many of us have become accustomed to abundance and have lost the thrift mentality of previous generations. We don’t think of food waste as a problem. Once we change our mindset and see every food thrown away as a failure, we naturally adopt habits that make food waste less common.
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Source: www.descopera.ro
