Urgent Calls to Address Food Waste Emissions as Study Highlights Alarming Environmental Impact.
In a stark revelation, a recent study has unveiled that greenhouse gases emanating from wasted and decomposed food make up approximately half of all global food system emissions. The research, published in Nature Food, scrutinised the emissions associated with food loss and waste at every stage in the supply chain, shedding light on the pressing need for comprehensive strategies to tackle this environmental menace.
Alarming Statistics: A Global Crisis
According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), nearly one-third of all food produced is lost or wasted annually. The study, delving into the emissions from food loss and waste, discovered that in 2017 alone, global food waste contributed to a staggering 9.3 billion tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions. This figure is comparable to the combined emissions of the United States and the European Union during the same period.
Battling Hunger and Emissions
The disconcerting findings come at a time when over 800 million people grappled with hunger in 2021, as reported by the UN. The study underscores the critical intersection between food waste emissions and the global hunger crisis, urging immediate attention to address both challenges concurrently.
Strategies for Mitigation
The study also explores potential avenues to reduce food waste emissions. Recommendations include halving meat consumption and advocating for composting instead of resorting to landfills for waste disposal. By adopting such measures, researchers believe that substantial progress can be made in curbing emissions and mitigating the environmental impact of food waste.
Disparities Across Nations
Notably, the study highlights disparities in food waste emissions across nations. Developed countries, equipped with advanced and environmentally friendly technologies, exhibit lower waste management emissions. In contrast, developing countries, particularly those facing challenges in refrigeration after harvest, struggle to avoid food waste due to limited resources and infrastructure.
Addressing the Root Causes
Professor Ke Yin, a corresponding author of the study from Nanjing Forestry University in China, emphasises the importance of raising awareness about the magnitude of food waste emissions. While some countries have implemented measures like waste sorting, others lag due to issues such as poverty, inequality, and political instability.
Global Impact and Tailored Interventions
China, India, the US, and Brazil collectively contribute over 44% of global supply-related emissions from food waste and 38% of waste-management-related emissions. The researchers argue that these findings can aid decision-makers in tailoring interventions to specific local contexts, addressing the issue at its root and fostering a more sustainable global food system.
As the world grapples with the complex challenge of food waste emissions, the study calls for unified efforts to implement practical solutions, urging nations to collaborate towards achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goals of halving global food waste by 2030.
A message from our sponsors, The Ideas Distillery:
If you would like to look at how to implement an ISO 14001 environmental management system, then simply contact us.
Or, if you want to see what's involved in more detail, then get a completely free, no obligation, totally tailored ISO Gap Analysis for your business (only available to UK businesses).
Comments