Upcycled Food Association reposted this
Are we doomed or is there hope? Despite global recognition, the impact of food loss and waste is often underestimated due to several misconceptions: ⓵ Environmental Impact Overlooked: Many people don’t realize that food waste decomposing in landfills produces methane, a greenhouse gas significantly more potent than CO₂, thus contributing heavily to climate change. ⓶ Underestimating the Scale: There’s a common belief that food waste is minimal, yet approximately one-third of all food produced globally—about 1.3 billion tons annually—is lost or wasted. ⓷ Inevitability Assumption: It’s often thought that food waste is an unavoidable part of the food system, ignoring that strategic interventions can substantially reduce it. ⓸ Consumer-Centric Misconception: Many assume food waste occurs mainly at the consumer level, whereas significant losses happen during production, harvesting, and processing due to inefficiencies and inadequate infrastructure. ⓹ Economic Cost Ignored: The economic losses from food waste are underestimated; globally, it amounts to roughly $940 billion per year, impacting economies and exacerbating food insecurity. 🤞🏻 A hopeful trend on the consumer side is the growing commitment to sustainable consumption. More consumers are adopting practices like purchasing only what they need, embracing “ugly” produce, and utilizing technology—such as food-sharing apps—to minimize waste. This increased environmental awareness and social responsibility signal a positive shift towards greater efficiency and efficacy in reducing food loss and waste in the future. 💬 Are you seeing the change in awareness and accompanying change in consumer behavior? Which are the companies, organizations and products that drive the positive change that reduces food loss and food waste? Upcycled Food Association ReFED #foodloss #foodwaste #upcycle #endfoodloss
It’s a shame small acreage farmers are being put out of business; it only exacerbates the problem of food loss due to distance traveled, never mind the transportation costs and emissions. We need to get back to a really sustainable food supply and that means growing and supplying local. I can do without blueberries flown in from South America.