A study conducted by researchers at Aalto University, Finland, has revealed that by halving food losses worldwide it would be possible to sustain a further one billion inhabitants on current world food production levels.
Published in ‘Science of the Total Environment’, the study – which is the first of its kind – shows that more efficient use of the food production chain and a decrease in the amount of food losses could ‘dramatically help maintain the planet’s natural resources and improve people’s lives’.
According to the findings, 614 kilocalories per person per day are lost in current food production chain processes. In addition, the study found that 27 m3 of clean water, 0.031 hectares of agricultural land and 4.3 kilos of fertilizers per every inhabitant in the world is wasted in food losses annually.
Matti Kummu, post-doctoral researcher at Aalto University, explained the problems associated with expansion, rather than a reduction in food loss: “There isn't enough clean water everywhere on Earth. Significantly more agricultural land cannot be cleared as well as certain raw material minerals for fertilizers are running low.”
“At the same time, a quarter of the amount of calories in produced food is lost or wasted at different stages of food production chain, which results in unnecessary resources loss.”
Factoring in food losses, our ‘present global food production’ stands at 2,609 kilocalories per inhabitant, enough to feed eight billion.
The researchers argue that such a target could be met ‘if the lowest loss percentage achieved in any region could be reached globally.’
However, whilst food loss is itself a serious issue, Kummu concludes that knock on effects associated with food loss could have potentially more serious repercussions.
“Agriculture uses over 90 percent of the fresh water consumed by humans and most of the raw materials used in fertilizers. More efficient food production and the reduction of food losses are very important matters for the environment as well as future food security.”
Get our weekly digest
resource.co article ai
How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.