Be food wise and reap rewards
Food for thought
A lack of understanding about food production could be to blame for Australians wasting $10 billion worth of food every year.
The latest RaboDirect Food and Farming Report shows 14 per cent of weekly groceries end up in the bin.
REAP Cairns chapter co-ordinator Jana Gorski (above) knows all too well how wasteful Far Northerners are, despite their proximity to farmers.
Every week, REAP’s 25 volunteers collect a tonne of unwanted food from local markets and businesses and deliver it to 17 charities and schools with breakfast programs.
A LACK of understanding about food production could be to blame for Australians wasting $10 billion worth of food every year.
The latest RaboDirect Food and Farming Report shows 14 per cent of weekly groceries end up in the bin, which equates to about $21 a week or $1100 a year per household.
REAP Cairns chapter coordinator Jana Gorski knows all too well how wasteful Far Northern consumers are, despite their proximity to farmers.
Every week REAP’s 25 volunteers collect a tonne of unwanted food from local markets and businesses and deliver it to 17 charities and schools with breakfast programs.
Ms Gorski believes more awareness of farming processes is needed.
“I don’t think many people, Gen Y in particular, would have any idea of the amount of water required to produce food, especially milk and meat, or even just what’s involved in the production of those types of food,” she said. “Wasting half a hamburger wastes the same amount of water as a 60minute shower.
“The idea of having a shower for 60 minutes, we all identify that as being wasteful, but we don’t see that water when we look at a hamburger.”
In light of the findings, RaboDirect has urged consumers to review their spending and food waste habits.
“When we reduce the amount of food that gets wasted or reaches landfill, there are significant environmental, economic and social benefits that can be realised that go beyond the obvious benefit to the hip pocket,” said Rabobank Australia and New Zealand head of market research Glenn Wealands.
“By making a few changes to your everyday life, such as using leftovers for lunches throughout the week and making sure you check the fridge before going shopping, Aussies can reduce food waste and save money.”
Ms Gorski’s advice was to freeze leftovers that weren’t going to be eaten immediately and do smaller shops, more frequently.