Live wasted food in tonnes:
Worldwide Food Waste In one portion of the world we witness starving societies and on the other, "throwaway" civilisations exist. Each year, approximately 1.3 billion tonnes of food is destined for trash can. This equates to 41 tonnes each second. A portion is discarded immediately after harvest due to the fact that it does not meet the required standards. However, the majority of waste is caused by the home consumer. We should note here that not only is the food itself wasted. Other concerns are the energy and raw materials (such as fertiliser) utilised to harvest the crops along with the process of transporting food over long distances. The ultimate cost of disposal also needs to be taken into account. This is the reason why it is estimated that $750 billion dollars are spent on an annual basis. This equates to $23,782 dollars each second. Even Bill Gates would be bankrupt after only a few weeks! Bill Gates Money Counter
WORLDWIDE FOOD WASTE
Since the beginning of the year in million tonnes:
Cost of waste live in US Dollar:
"Food is for everyone, but not everyone can afford it" A truth that has been seen open around the world far too often. Unfortunately, more food goes wasted each year than what can actually be eaten. The world suffers the consequences of decades of overconsumption and poor resource management, as millions of tons of food are thrown away instead of being utilized or delivered to those in need. A recent study conducted by The Institute of Food and Development Research produced startling results, estimating that over 20 types of food are being wasted on a global scale each year. On a yearly basis, nearly 61 million tons of potatoes, 49 million tons of apples, 48 million tons of bread, 44 million tons of chicken, 39 million tons of tomatoes, 34 million tons of fish, 13 million tons of eggs, and 147 million tons of vegetables are thrown away. These staggering numbers should make us wonder how many people these oats of food thrown away could’ve fed. The Institute also put together some rough estimates, as they calculated that nearly 795 million people worldwide suffer from food insecurity on a daily basis. This means that the global population could’ve sustained an estimated 690 million individuals with the food that was wasted in a year. This figure includes 145 million children who could’ve been provided with nourishing meals had those foods been donated or redistributed properly. A subsequent report revealed that countries such as the US and Canada produced the most amount of food waste of all, chiefly as a result of overzealous plating and packaging techniques. In the US alone, it’s estimated that an additional 30-40% of energy is spent when feeding a person with food that’s been plated for retail stores. A fresh study published in the Journal of Applied Ecology found that individuals in low- income countries are particularly at risk of food waste. This is attributed to the overall employment rate, as low-income households in these countries often struggle to secure employment due to the current global health and socio-economic climate. In fact, over 28% of the global population lives with a daily income of less than $3.10, making it almost impossible for them to feed themselves adequately. It’s clear that food waste has become a major issue in the world, and yet there are still many individuals and organizations unaware of its impact. Wasted food not only affects food availability and distribution, but also the environment, as food that decomposes into landfills generates large amounts of methane - a highly potent greenhouse gas. In addition, vast amounts of energy and money are spent when producing food unnecessarily for the foodservice industry. Fortunately, knowledge, advocacy, and the implementation of effective interventions can reduce the amount of food waste in the world. This is particularly so when it comes to reducing food insecurity, as well as when it comes to preventing further environmental damage. To begin, one of the most effective ways to reduce food waste is to promote food rescue programs against food insecurity. This involves connecting those in need with individuals or organizations offering assistance, ensuring that the surplus food is available to those who truly need it. Additionally, people can spread awareness via social media platforms and blogs, as well as by donating to charitable organizations that are actively working to reduce global hunger and malnutrition. When it comes to environmental preservation, collective action and advocacy are key. Governments should set up policies or subsidies that focus on green packaging and more efficient production techniques, to ensure that waste is minimized. Doing so would enable food businesses to save on costs and resources, and will create more space for better waste management. Thus, the first steps towards slashing global food waste must start with individuals, as we play a key role in changing waste-related behavior and attitudes. By becoming more mindful consumers, and engaging in sustainable purchasing and preparation processes, we can ensure that food is used to nourish as many people as possible, rather than simply being a source of waste. In conclusion, wasted food does more than just waste money, it also wastes lives, and when large amounts of food are wasted each year on a global scale, it can be a major contributor to undernutrition and food insecurity. We must come together to resolve this issue, as well as put existing resources to better use. Doing so will ensure that food isn’t simply wasted, but rather used to feed and nourish those in need.