Food wastage is not unique to India; Social injustice happening all over the world! The disrespect provided to the farmer who produces the food item in the midst of so many difficulties. Food is not inanimate. It is a living substance. Aside from the tragic situation where about 70 crore people in the world go to bed every night with no food at all. Otherside, about 20% of the total food production is wasted, according to the UN ‘Food Consumption Index 2021’ study.
What are the consequences?
Many people think that ‘food wastage’ is a ritual that ends with a plate of food and a banana leaf used to eaten. Economic science says that wasting food is the greatest social crime committed by man. This is because the cost of producing food from the ground, evolving it into food by fuel, and passing it through many stages of proper protection and distribution to the plate is multiplied by the wastage of food. It greatly affects the economy of that country.
Moreover, it is said to be intertwined with the environment. How? Food that is wasted by consumers in many ways, such as leftover food and spoiled food, returns to the soil. There it emits a large amount of greenhouse gases called 'methane'. It is also a factor in global warming. It contributes to climate change.
How many of us know that food waste is one of the reasons why the rainy seasons are changing now, the summer is prolonging unnaturally, the cold is gripping us, the huge glaciers are melting and the sea level is rising suddenly? Shouldn't food wastage be stopped if we want to control environmental pollution?
Recycling required
As an alternative to buying every ‘favorite food’ and putting a little leftovers in everything, the first step to prevent food wastage is to develop the ‘fragmented biodiversity’ habit of buying what is needed, eating what is needed, and giving food to those in need instead of throwing leftovers into the trash. Can we start doing this from today!
In today's world of scientific and technological development, wasted food can be prevented from entering the soil, and it can be properly recycled and converted into food for animals and birds, or natural manure for the native soil. Let's make way for that! Next, modern technology can inject toxins, including methane and acetate released by a wide variety of bacteria from food waste and convert into the cooking gas we use. We can see that change too!
Exemplary South Africa
Denmark and the Netherlands are among the leading countries in the world facing advances in preventing and reusing wasted food. In these countries, the Department of Food Safety has set up surveillance forces to prevent food wastage at social events. South Africa is also currently embarking on an effort to turn waste food back into a food aid.
Somehow, ‘BSF’ (Black Soldier Fly - BSF) insect larvae thrive on wasted vegetables and fruits. These react with the food waste to convert it into protein-rich foods. This new food is used for poultry and fish farming. Based on this, South Africa has started a large number of small businesses. Martino Auto, head of the UN Food Waste Management and Environment Program, called on other countries in the world to follow this method. India is also should follow this method. Thus the community and the government can put hand together to end the food waste; It can also help protect the environment by turning leftover food into useful food without throwing it in the trash.
