Think about the last time you went shopping for food. Did you end up consuming all of what you bought? If yes, then congratulations! Most of us however end up throwing away large amounts of what we buy. In fact, about one third of the food that is produced in the world for human consumption is wasted through various steps of the supply chain (Gustavsson et al, 2011). I have already argued in my previous posts that global food production is extensively fossil fuel intensive and a burden for the environment. If we take into account all the damage food production does to our planet, it is alarming to think that one third of that is for nothing!
So where does all this waste go? One third of the world food production- that is about 1.3 billion tonnes! Every year, developed countries throw away almost as much food (222 million tonnes) that is equivalent to total food production in the whole of Sub-Saharan Africa (230 million tonnes) (UNEP, 2009). All this wasted food ends up most commonly in landfills, which are one of the largest sources of methane, a dangerous greenhouse gas. Combining the environmental damage occurred during the production of food waste with the emissions released during the disposal of it, we have ourselves a dangerous and destructive cycle of food waste.
(Source: http://www.consumercheckpoint.co.uk)
On a more scientific note, Grizetti et al (2013) just recently published a study that looks at how food waste contributes to nitrogen pollution. The authors took to account the nitrogen pollution that is released into air, water and soil and found out that 'food waste represents about 12% of the total nitrogen loss to the environment due to food production, with meat being responsible for about 50% of the emissions' (Grizetti et al, 2013). They also point out that 35% of the nitrogen emissions are pumped into the atmosphere and 65% into the planet's water systems. The threat to water systems due to nitrogen comes in the form of water eutrophication (caused mainly by nitrate)- the over-enrichment of water systems by nutrients. This can undermine water quality, reduce oxygen supply in the water system and cause biodiversity loss. In the EU, food and drink consumption is responsible for more than 50% of eutrophication. In fact red meat has the highest destructive eutrophication potential.
How water eutrophication looks like (water 'blooming')
(Source: http://www.wri.org)
As the authors mainly focus on measuring the nitrogen pollution that results from food waste, they do offer a few suggestions for future action. It is suggested that in order to cut down on global food waste, better management within the food supply chain is essential. Steps of the supply chain like distribution, retailing and processing see large amounts of food being wasted before it even reaches the shelves of the supermarkets. This could be decreased by operating a short supply chain (locally produced) as transporting food adds on to the food waste figures. For example, a Dutch french fries producer admitted the need to throw away many of its potatoes even before production due to damages occurred during loading and transportation (Gustavsson et al, 2011). The other obvious way of reducing food waste is by changing people's habits. A recent attempt to change consumer behavior is the Love Food Hate Waste campaign that was launched in 2007, now operating all over the UK. It is a campaign to raise public awareness towards domestic food waste and to help people make most of their food. They give tips for appropriate storage, portion planning and recipes. Thanks to the campaign, food waste is now a topical issue in the media and considered as a real problem (Tesco's food waste in the news).
(Source: http://www.recycleforgreatermanchester.com)
In order to cut down on food waste, effort from consumers and suppliers is essential. Changing people's habits developed by consumerism can be a difficult task but as seen with Love Food Hate Waste, more attention is going towards the issue. But can you already see the links between other problems with the food sector: food waste, meat consumption and food trade? This is a topic that I will return to in future posts. For now, I leave you with a TED talk by Tristram Stuart who presents shocking data about the global food waste scandal and calls for a more responsible use of the planet's resources. Hope you enjoy it!
Till next time,
Laura
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