Food waste
Follow the food that goes uneaten on the journey from field to fork
How many times have you bought some fresh fruit just for it to end up in the bin just days later, or emptied your leftovers into the bin? It happens to the best of us – impulse buying, improper planning and being forgetful means a large amount of the food we buy goes uneaten. But the biggest cause for concern when we’re thinking about food waste is what happens between the produce growing on the field and arriving at your kitchen. It is estimated that between a third and a half of all food produced never makes its way onto a plate.
the journey of agricultural Food waste
Losses occur at all stages of the food supply chain, from production to consumption
initial quantity
According to a UN report from 2011, approximately 4 billion tons of food is produced globally each year, but one-third of this ends up going to waste.
agriculture
The first losses in food production occur due to infestations of pests and microorganisms, as well as agricultural machines that are unable to harvest an entire crop efficiently. Diseased livestock and fish bycatch also lead to losses.
Post-harvest
After harvest, many items of produce can end up getting damaged or destroyed while in storage or being transported due to temperature and humidity changes or the presence of microorganisms and pests.
Processing
Edible food can end up going to waste in factories and processing plants. This can include the skin of ‘readypeeled’ veg or trimmings of meat, as well as products that have been contaminated or don’t conform to standards.
distribution
Retailers usually have strict standards for how produce must look; items may not be put on the shelves if they have bruising or are unusually shaped. Stores may also reject food deliveries if they have surplus stock already.
consumption
Large portion sizes at home and in restaurants, as well as misunderstanding ‘best-before’ labels, means a significant amount of good food is thrown away at the consumer end of the food production chain.