Rising Poverty and Food Wastage
It is quite horrible to know that 1.3 billion tons or approximately 33% of food produced globally ends up in waste bins when we have over one billion souls going to bed empty stomach. For every person missing a meal on this planet we all are to blame who contribute to this wastage on one way or the other. We all are to blame for fast depletion of Natural resources as we are exploiting these resources more than we need. Food Wastage is an outcome of consumer behavior as well technological gaps. This can further be classified as food wastage in developed world (which is quite significant) is based on consumer behavior while food wastage in developing world is caused by poor infrastructure facilities and post-harvest losses.
Tristram Stuart, who authored a book “Waste” which explores the extent of food wastage and its possible alternative uses, reveals that
“There are nearly a billion malnourished people in the world, but all of them could be lifted out of hunger with less than a quarter of the food wasted in Europe and North America. In a globalized food system, where we are all buying food in the same international market place, that means we’re taking food out of the mouths of the poor.”
Stuart further deliberated that the irrigation water used to grow the food which ended up in waste bins is sufficient to fulfill the 200-litre domestic water requirement of 9 billion people while this planet is home to nearly 7 billion people right now.
In a similar report published by British government similar estimates were made regarding prevalent hunger and malnutrition and food wastage. The British government report revealed that one billion people suffer from hunger and malnutrition while another billion suffer from ‘hidden hunger’, which means they are deficient in essential minerals and vitamins and face risk of corporeal and cerebral impairment. Due to this they cannot utilize their capabilities and skills to optimal level. Interestingly another billion of people are underutilizing their skills due to multiple diseases like Type 2 diabetes and heart problems caused by overeating. One billion falling in 1st category of hungry people are residents of developing countries while one billion who usually overeat are from developed world. Inadequate food distribution system has caused 28% of people to deliver less than their potential.
Food wastage in developing world is much lesser than the developed world and is commonly related to technological issues including knowledge to handle food items scientifically to reduce waste. Their technological limitations keep their productions below PAR and they do not have enough to waste. Food Waste control measures require investment in technology in developing world and a change in consumer behavior in developing world. Taking steps in right direct direction will make global journey towards millennium development goals easier and will make this world a beautiful place to live.