These days, food loss is a big problem in many countries, and it has a great influence on our lives. The number continues to rise every year, so people have to find methods to solve this problem. Various policies related to food loss have been conducted around the world to deal with food loss, but their effects are yet to be seen.
Causes of food loss
There are many causes of food loss.
・Lack of proper planning
Some customers buy a lot of products without thinking about how much they consume. As a result, the food expires and leads to loss.
・Buying too much food
Overbuying food leads to expiration and spoilage.
・Administrative, financial, and technical constraints
In developing countries, poor management, bad weather, different storage methods, and technical deficiencies, such as processing and packaging techniques, lead to underproduction of food.
・Excessive preparation of food in the food service industry
Restaurants and hotels are overproducing to prevent menu shortages and accommodate the growing number of customers.
3. Impacts of food loss on our lives
Food loss also affects our lives and the environment.
・Increasing carbon dioxide and accelerating climate change
Increasing amounts of food waste affect climate change. As the amount of waste increases, the amount of incineration also increases. As a result, a large amount of methane gas is generated, which accelerates global warming.
・Wasting water
Agricultural production uses a lot of water, and when food is thrown away, the water used is also wasted.
・Waste of land
Although the land is prepared for agriculture, if the food produced is not consumed, the land is wasted.
・Biodiversity loss
Food waste deprives organisms of habitat because they encroach on wild areas to use the land for agriculture.
・Economic impact
Food waste also affects costs and leads to large losses.
4. Measures to reduce food loss
Food loss is a huge global problem, so we have to solve it. There are many measures to decrease the amount of food loss.
・Produce in sufficient quantities to meet demand
Producing a large amount of food creates waste. So, it is necessary to decide the amount of food to be produced or made according to the number of consumers or deliver it after receiving an order.
・Improving the system from food harvesting to distribution
In order to produce and distribute food efficiently, it is necessary to develop advanced technology and production systems.
・Efforts to reduce food waste
When purchasing food, not only producers and sellers but also consumers need to consider the amount they can consume. We can reduce the amount of waste by ingeniously cooking damaged food and adjusting the amount of commercialization.
・Food recycling
Instead of simply discarding food, it is important to devise ways to use it for other purposes, such as using it as feed for livestock.
5. Conclusion
There are many causes of food loss, and in order to improve our lives, it is necessary to solve these problems little by little. Instead of entrusting it to someone else, we should be able to improve the environment by having everyone, from producers to consumers,a constantly think about this issue as they live their lives. To protect the global environment and live comfortably, we have to solve this global problem together.
6. References
Conserve Energy Future. 2022. Causes, Effects and Solutions to Growing Problem of Food Waste. [online] Available at: <https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-effects-solutions-food-waste.php> [Accessed 26 August 2022].
