FOOD WASTE

Follow the food that goes uneaten on the journey from field to fork.

How many times have you bought some fresh fruit just for it to end up in the bin just days later, or emptied your leftovers into the bin? It happens to the best of us – impulse buying, improper planning and being forgetful means a large amount of the food we buy goes uneaten. But the biggest cause for concern when we’re thinking about food waste is what happens between the produce growing on the field and arriving at your kitchen. It is estimated that between a third and a half of all food produced never makes its way onto a plate.

THE JOURNEY OF AGRICULTURAL FOOD WASTE

INITIAL QUANTITY

According to a UN report from 2011, approximately 4 billion tons of food is produced globally each year, but one-third of this ends up going to waste.

AGRICULTURE

The first losses in food production occur due to infestations of pests and microorganisms, as well as agricultural machines that are unable to harvest an entire crop efficiently. Diseased livestock and fish bycatch also lead to losses.

PROCESSING

Edible food can end up going to waste in factories and processing plants. This can include the skin of ‘ready-peeled’ veg or trimmings of meat, as well as products that have been contaminated or don’t conform to standards.

POST-HARVEST

After harvest, many items of produce can end up getting damaged or destroyed while in storage or being transported due to temperature and humidity changes or the presence of microorganisms and pests.

DISTRIBUTION

Retailers usually have strict standards for how produce must look; items may not be put on the shelves if they have bruising or are unusually shaped. Stores may also reject food deliveries if they have surplus stock already.

CONSUMPTION

Large portion sizes at home and in restaurants, as well as misunderstanding ‘best-before’ labels, means a significant amount of good food is thrown away at the consumer end of the food production chain.

FOOD WASTE SOLUTIONS

Better labelling
There is often confusion around what the ‘use-by’, ‘sell-by’ and ‘best before’ dates on packaging mean, so consumers often throw away food that was good to eat. Using ‘spoils on’ dates rather than using a sell-by date could mean that markets can keep produce on the shelves longer.

Food distribution
Overstocked stores can help to reduce waste by redistributing their surplus stock. They can send any extra food they don’t need to food banks, community fridges and similar schemes. There are even apps that can help – Food Cowboy helps connect companies donating spare food with those who need it.

Improving policy
Significant amounts of fruit and vegetables are lost due to industry standards that focus on the appearance of the item rather than its quality. Improving policies surrounding which items are thrown out due to aesthetics would reduce unnecessary waste.

Consumer choices
Consumer choices impact the food supply chain. If we all take steps to reduce waste as individuals – by selecting ‘wonky veg’ or using up our leftovers instead of throwing them away – it will make a significant difference.

Building infrastructure
Improving current food harvesting methods, storage and transport facilities and processing techniques will make a big difference to the amount of food that is lost at almost every stage of food production.

FIVE TIPS TO REDUCE FOOD WASTE AT HOME

1. Plan ahead
Making a shopping list and planning your meals for the week helps to make sure you only buy the ingredients you will need.

2. Water your vegetables
You can keep vegetables in water to help them stay fresh and keep in your fridge for longer. Try this with stemmed veg such as broccoli, celery and asparagus.

3. Freeze leftovers
Accidentally made too much cottage pie for the family? Invest in some freezer-safe containers and save for another time.

4. Get creative
When food has already started to get a bit past its best, check out recipes you can still use it in. Older bananas can be great for making banana bread when they’re too mushy to eat on their own, and overripe avocados can still be used in guacamole.

5. Start composting
Rather than throw away vegetable peels or leftovers, you can make your own nutrient-rich compost for the garden.

In "How It Works - The Magazine That Feeds Mind", UK, Issue 115, excerpts pp.40-41. Digitized, adapted and illustrated to be posted by Leopoldo Costa.