How To Prevent Food Waste?

Food production and consumption involves contradictions within itself on our planet. One part of the world lives at the starvation limit while another part suffers from obesity due to unhealthy and excessive eating habits. Is it possible to equalize these and create a permanent solution in this sense?

Food waste means an unbalanced distribution of resources. Climate change and similar factors prevent the world’s population from reaching high-quality food in adequate amounts in an equal and fair manner. Because food sources suffer various losses starting from production up to the end consumer. In addition to economic impacts, food waste also creates one of the most important crises in today’s world while also damaging sustainability.

Global Dimension of Food Waste

56% of food waste happens in developed countries while the remaining 44% happens in developing countries. In developing countries, food waste originates from the inadequate infrastructure in production, storage, processing, distribution, and marketing phases while developed countries see food waste due to losses experienced during retail and consumption phases.

​"According to ''Food Crisis in the World 2023'' report;

• Nearly 850 million people live at the starvation limit.
• Obesity causes death of 4 million people.
• Each year 2 trillion USD is being spent for treatment of health conditions due to obesity.
• Each year one third of produced food is lost or wasted. In short, 1.3 billion tons of food is being disposed of each year.
• Food waste cost in developed countries reaches up to 680 billion USD.
• Food waste cost in developing countries is 310 billion USD.
• Food wasted in European countries and the USA is enough to feed the world population 3 times over.
• Food wasted only by the end consumer in developed countries amounts to 230 million tons. Unplanned shopping and buying more than what is needed causes food spoilage and waste.

Food Waste in Turkey

Below statistics are enough to understand food waste in our country.

• According to the Ministry of Commerce’s Turkey Waste Report (2018), 5.4% of consumers dispose left over food and 23% of purchased food go to waste without being consumed.
• According to Food Loss and Label Reading Perception Study Report (2019), households mostly dispose of fruits and vegetables (42%), followed by milk and dairy products (41%).

Unfortunately, we are seeing a considerable extent of food waste in our country as well. Preventing food waste will guarantee building a sustainable future starting from today. It should also be noted that food waste is a major contributor to the climate crisis.

Food and Environment Relation

The production process of food has negative, irreversible impacts on nature. Many food products offered to the consumers through serial production methods cause greenhouse gas emissions. For example, transportation of food products requires the use of refrigerators. And a high amount of energy is being used for this purpose and this increases greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, there are other factors that cause food waste such as inadequate storage conditions for packaged products or consumers’ failure to consume food products before their expiration dates. Therefore, wasted food increases greenhouse gas emissions.

The highest emissions are caused by meat and meat products. Methane and nitrogen oxide generated in the process of animal food production cause greenhouse gas emissions. The food products with the lowest emissions are locally produced food products. In other words, the shorter transportation distance for the food product means lower levels of emissions.

How To Reduce Food Waste?

If we list what should be done at every stage of production and supply chain up to the end consumer to reduce global food waste;

1- Agricultural production: Food spoilage may be prevented at the first stages of production by using good agricultural production applications.
2- Storage and storing solutions: Waste may be prevented by improving storage conditions of food products.
3- Technical solutions in transportation and packaging: Innovative implementations in transportation and packaging of food products may create a substantial impact.
4- Household solutions: Nongovernmental organizations may raise awareness about food waste among households and thus consumers’ sensitivity in this subject may be increased.
5- National policies: Various policies should be implemented across countries in order to reduce food waste. Food waste may be reduced through policies to be implemented at national levels by the states.
6- Food banks: Increasing food banks’ activities which store surplus food products under favorable conditions and increasing donations to these banks may help in preventing food waste.

Alternative Solutions for Food Waste

One of the most valuable methods in recycling and reusing kitchen and food waste in our homes is compost method.

In compost method, organic materials decompose thanks to microorganisms by feeding on the air and soil and domestic wastes are transformed into valuable fertilizer. The compost method is thought to have emerged with the first agricultural activities of human groups. It is now known that compost was a valuable method used in Ancient Greek, Roman, Arabian, and Chinese civilizations. Thanks to compost method, wastes are utilized while protecting soil and environment.

Compost Types per Production Method

Let’s review different compost types according to Buğday Association’s 'Compost Guide'!

• Bokashi Compost: Bokashi compost is the best fit method for urban life. This method consists of burying waste fermented with lactic acid bacteria into the soil and getting compost. Organic food and wastes are collected in a bucket that can be tightly covered during the fermentation process. Vegetable and fruit wastes, tea and coffee pulps, eggshells, old bread, and similar wastes are protected with wood chips, uncolored cardboard. Lactoserum is then added, and all materials are covered in a way that will get rid of the air in the bucket and prevent air entry into the bucket. The compost will be ready at the end of 2 weeks to be used as a fertilizer.

• Vermicompost: This method has been highly popular in recent days, and it consists of using worms’ digestive system to decompose organic materials. The compost obtained through this method is as rich as hot compost while being free of toxins with high nutritious value. Vermicompost may be obtained in a large box at homes, does not smell and is a particularly ideal method to use kitchen wastes.

• Cold Compost: Cold compost consists of collecting appropriate wastes by piling it on each other at a certain rate. However, a large area is needed for cold compost, and it is not the best fit for urban life.

• Hot Compost: The process of hot compost is much faster compared to cold compost, and it can be prepared within approximately 1 month. However, since a large area is needed for hot compost as well, it is a difficult method to implement in urban life.

What is Sustainable Nutrition?

Sustainable nutrition aims at preventing lack of food for current as well as future generations by enabling sustainability of health and agricultural processes.

One of the most significant factors of sustainable nutrition is to consume less meat and to eat a mainly vegetable diet. Consuming fish and choosing local fish products can create a substantial impact. Consuming local foods and locally produced products is indispensable for this! Another significant factor is to consume vegetables in their own seasons. A prerequisite of sustainable nutrition is not consuming processed and packaged food items which contain excessive sugar, fat, and salt. Last but not least, it is also important to reduce food waste as much as possible.

By eating a sustainable diet we can reduce our carbon footprint while also contributing in the future of our world!