The food that reaches our table is a luxurious treasure that we do not value as we should. Its cultivation has consumed valuable natural resources and a lot of work from our farmers.
Every year one third of the world’s food production for human consumption does not reach any plate and is lost or wasted. We are talking about 1.3 billion tons of food. In a world where 828 million people are going hungry, we must take action and put an end to food waste. Because just by reducing food losses in Europe, 200 million people could be fed.
In addition, combating food waste contributes to the fight against climate change. Food loss and waste are responsible for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions and the volume of water used in food production, 21% of the world’s freshwater, is equivalent to 3 times the volume of Lake Geneva (89 km³). In summary, if food is better used and distributed, 14% of all emissions from agriculture could be avoided by 2050.
There is a lot of data to support the need for a global strategy against food waste. At Granja de los Granjeros, as small local producers in southern Spain, we have been struck by this figure: almost 30% of the world’s agricultural land is used to produce food that will never be consumed.
“Lots of little people, in little places, doing little things, can change the world.”
Eduardo Galeano
We, who are small producers in an area classified as depopulated and disadvantaged in Andalusia, what can we do? Here are our actions against food waste:
It’s your turn. Most countries have a National Food Waste Reduction Strategy from field to retail, such as Germany, but the most important actions to save food and help the planet start at home.
