Article: Food Waste - A Brief Recap 2024
Food Waste - A Brief Recap 2024
By Lauren Seidel, Libby Elman and Julia Strum; edited by Allégorie
The world today produces enough food to feed 1.5x the global population. There is enough for everyone. The problem is our food systems – the way we produce, harvest, transport, process, market and consume food.
The Industrial Revolution Changes Production
The massive food waste problem facing the world today traces back to the 18th century. The invention of advanced farming technology made mass production possible. This led to two major shifts in food production. First, agriculture output exploded due to increased productivity. Second, the distance between food production and consumers kept increasing.
Before the mechanization, the majority of food came straight from farms to households. The addition of middlemen, such as factories, processing centers, wholesalers and retailers, created more distance between the producer and consumer. More steps in the supply chain means more opportunities for waste and less conscious attitudes about food. As technological advances, food waste issues continued to worsen at the consumer level.
Food Production Has Outpaced Population Growth
This chart compares world population growth and total agriculture output, measured by the sum of crop and livestock products. It is measured in constant 2015 US$, adjusted for inflation. As shown in the chart, food production has outgrown the population, increasing from $355/person in 1961 to $538/person in 2019.
Source: USDA, United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Where Food Waste Come From
The total cost of food loss and waste for the global economy is estimated at roughly $1 trillion. In wealthier countries the largest portion of food waste comes from consumer level in the households. In developing countries, a larger proportion of food loss occurs during the harvest time, mostly due to poor storage spaces, lack of technology and lack of distribution resources.
Climate also plays a role in food waste across countries. Food waste is higher in hotter countries, both at household level and in post-harvest phase, with high temperatures affecting storage, processing and transportation of food.
Source: UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2024 Key Messages, UN Environment Program, Mar. 2024
In terms of the country-specific statistics:
- 5-6% of all food is lost along the supply chain in Australia and New Zealand. In contrast, the percentage is around 20-21% in Central and South Asia. The North American and European's percentages lie in the middle of these two statistics. The differences are results of infrastructure, production, and transportation
- China and India, being the countries with biggest populations, produce the most household food waste in the world, at 92 million and 69 million metric tons every year, respectively
- The estimated per capita food waste production is highest in Western Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, due to food losses occurring during the beginning stages of the supply chain
Food Waste Per Capita At Consumer Level (Kg per Capita, 2019)
Source: UN and FAO
Annual food waste in the U.S. is valued at $218 billion, equivalent to 130 billion meals, with the average American family of four wasting approximately $1,600 worth of food annually. This occurs while approximately 700 million people across the world are hungry and a third of humanity faces food insecurity.
Where Does Food Waste Go?
The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that together the U.S. food retail, food services, and residential sectors send 59.8% of their food waste to landfills. The food retail and hospitality sectors specifically generate an extremely high amount of food waste, specifically 31.3 million tons. The majority of the U.S. hospitality sector’s wasted food comes from restaurants and food services, and over half of it ends up in landfills.
Source: 2019 Wasted Food Report: Estimates of Generation and Management of Wasted Food in the United States in 2019, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Apr. 2023
Because most of the food waste ends up in the landfill, food loss and waste accounts for around 8% percent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions – almost five times the total emissions from the aviation sector.
The Challenges of Combating Food Waste Today
Many organizations, both governmental and commercial, have taken steps to reduce the food waste problem faced by the world, but they have faced various hurdles along the way. A total of 9 states within the USA have implemented food waste bans, with the most effective being Massachusetts. In 2014, Massachusetts implemented a law stating that businesses or institutions generating more than a ton of food waste in a week were not allowed to dispose of this waste. A 2022 revision changed this number to half a ton. The waste would instead be composted, sent to charities, or sent to anaerobic digestion facilities. This law allowed Massachusetts to divert over 300,000 tons of food waste per year from landfills. A study in Science states three reasons for Massachusetts’ success:
- Affordability of Composting: Massachusetts created a large composting network throughout the state, with the average distance to a composting plant being much lower in Massachusetts than in other states. Because composting sites are closer, it is less expensive for companies to bring their waste there, increasing the effectiveness of the ban.
- Simplicity in the Language of the Ban: Massachusetts made its waste ban very easy for organizations to understand. The state clearly outlines what items companies cannot send to landfills and clearly outlines any exception within the document outlining waste regulations. It leaves very little room for interpretation allowing companies to have a very good understanding of how to conform to these policies.
- Higher Levels of Enforcement: In Massachusetts, the consequences for not complying with the ban was much higher. Inspections per year occurred 216% more frequently than the next highest state in the study, and monetary fines for noncompliance were also higher within this state.
At the national level, the USDA has provided resources to educate consumers about how to reduce their individual food waste, such as how to properly store food and interpret expiration dates. The EPA has also published its Food Recovery Hierarchy, encouraging businesses to reduce food waste through donations of excess food, recycling, and composting.
The USDA has set a goal to reduce food loss and waste by 50% by the year 2030, but this goal will only be accomplished if businesses and consumers also take active steps to change their practices.
How To Reduce Food Waste At Home
While food waste is a huge problem being combated by governments around the world, there are still steps that you can take to reduce waste at home.
Purchase Groceries with Meals in Mind: Before going to the grocery store, it is important to make a plan for the meals you will make in the week. First, make sure to look at what food you already have to not overbuy a certain good. With food that lasts longer, try to buy it in bulk as it will save you money and reduce packaging. Try to only purchase what you need rather than what you want. Furthermore, produce that is considered “ugly” and “imperfect,” meaning that they are misshapen, does not reflect on the quality of the products. If you are interested, some companies – such as Imperfect Foods – will deliver these goods with a monthly subscription.
Storing Foods Correctly: Ensure that you store your products in the correct manner so they are fresh for as long as possible. Do not leave perishables at room temperature for more than two hours, as it will lead to those products going bad. Store fruits such as apples, avocados, and bananas away from other produce as they release ethylene gas as they ripen, causing other products to spoil faster than need be. In the refrigerator, the lower shelves are the coldest, making them best for meat, while the door is the warmest and best for condiments. Bread and leftovers that you do not think you will eat within three days can be stored in the freezer to make them last longer.
Implement a Composting System at Home: After using produce, utilize the leftovers and food that is not “fresh.” Vegetable peels or wilted vegetables can be used in soup and fruits going soft can be used in oatmeal or a similar meal. Additionally, implement a composting system. Backyard composting avoids putting food waste into the landfill and can provide nutrients to your garden.
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Want to Learn More about Food Waste? Check out these videos:
Food Waste is the World's Dumbest Problem
What Happens to NYC's Food Waste?
Food Waste: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
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Additional Sources:
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/industrialization-labor-and-life/
http://exhibits.lib.usu.edu/exhibits/show/foodwaste/timeline/preww1
https://www.ifco.com/countries-with-the-least-and-most-food-waste/
https://www.statista.com/statistics/933083/food-waste-of-selected-countries/
https://www.usda.gov/foodwaste/faqs
https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2023-03/2019%20Wasted%20Food%20Report_508_opt_ec.pdf
https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2020-11/documents/2018_wasted_food_report-11-9-20_final_.pdf:
https://www.unep.org/resources/report/unep-food-waste-index-report-2021
https://refed.org/downloads/ReFED_Report_2016.pdf
https://www.rts.com/resources/guides/food-waste-america/
https://www.mass.gov/guides/commercial-food-material-disposal-ban
https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/calsfac/198/#:~:text=Key%20findings%20include%3A%201.,2.
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adn4216
https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/
https://champions123.org/target-123
https://www.epa.gov/recycle/preventing-wasted-food-home
https://www.fda.gov/food/consumers/tips-reduce-food-waste
https://www.mass.gov/doc/310-cmr-19000-solid-waste-management-facility-regulations/download
