According to the report from the Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition, the total annual waste accounts for one third of all food produced for human consumption.
At the same time, experts say billions of people worldwide continue to have poor or inadequate diets.
Billions of tons of food amounting to roughly $1 trillion goes to waste each year without ever reaching the consumer’s plate, a shocking new study has found. Produce that’s considered to be ‘ugly’ is often thrown away, while other items perish during storage and transport
Food is often thrown away by retailers for aesthetic reasons, the report points out.
And, perishable items frequently spoil during transportation, storage, and refrigeration.
Both retailers and consumers are guilty of buying more than they need, particularly in high income areas.
‘Consumer waste in high-income countries is typically linked to purchasing and storage of large quantities of food at the household level, inefficient meal planning and preparation, and post-meal disposal of non-consumed portions,’ the report says.
The study found that more than half of all fruits and vegetables produced every year are wasted, while 25 percent of meat (or 75 million cows) never makes it to the table.
The wasted items also include high-nutrient foods such as seeds, nuts, dairy products, and seafood.
Experts say reducing food waste is a critical step in ensuring people have access to the nutrients they need.
‘To tackle all forms of malnutrition and promote healthy diets, we need to put in place food systems that increase the availability, affordability, and consumption of fresh, nutrient-rich food for everyone,’ says panel member and FAO Director-General of FAO, José Graziano da Silva.
Taking specific actions to reduce the losses and waste of fresh and nutritious food is a fundamental part of this effort.’
The brief lays out several policy actions that could help to mitigate the problem, including educating stakeholders, focusing on perishable foods, and improving infrastructure.
The researchers also say encouraging innovation will help, along with better informing consumers and retailers of the losses and waste.
very apt. and educative, productive as well. practical application of the idea should come to book we hope. good Job dear!