Halving global food waste could save 153 million people from hunger
A reduction of global food waste could save approximately 153 million people from hunger and contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases, according to experts. Currently, about one third of the food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted, as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) announced on Tuesday.
The reduction of food waste is an "ambitious" goal that requires "far-reaching changes both for consumers and producers," the report of the two organizations stated. The emission of climate-damaging gases in food production could therefore be reduced by approximately 4 percent.
In developing countries, farmers lack suitable storage facilities for their harvest, while in industrialized countries, tonnes of food end up in the landfill through excessive consumption, according to the FAO and OECD report. Fruits and vegetables are particularly affected.
A reduction in waste would "significantly increase global food availability, as more food would be available and prices would decrease," FAO and OECD explained. This would particularly benefit income-poor population groups.
- Expert analyses suggest that halving the current food waste could potentially feed an additional million people, contributing further to hunger alleviation.
- Experts agree that people in developing countries would significantly benefit from experts' calls to reduce food waste, as it could help in overcoming hunger and price fluctuations.
- After announcing the alarming figure of one-third lost or wasted food, experts emphasize the crucial role of halving food waste in reducing hunger and greenhouse gas emissions by 4%.
- Furthermore, experts indicate that details of food waste reduction strategies must consider both the challenges faced by farmers in storing their harvest in developing countries and the excessive consumption leading to waste in industrialized countries.
