2024-07-23 23:48:08
In 2022each Mexican household wasted approximately 105 kilos of foodpositioning the country in second place in Latin America in terms of food waste, only surpassed by the Dominican Republicwhere 160 kilos per capita are thrown away. This alarming statistic underlines a silent crisis affecting both the environment and global food security.
According to the United Nations (UN) Food Waste Index, 2021 was a crucial year for understanding the food waste.
That year, it revealed that household food waste was more consistent globally than previously thought before the Covid-19 pandemic. It is estimated that more than 600 million tons of food ended up in household garbagewhich represents 60 percent of the world’s total wasted food.
This figure is shocking not only because of its magnitude, but also because of its implications. Food waste not only means a significant economic loss, but also contributes to climate change due to the emission of greenhouse gases from decomposing organic waste.
In Latin America, Mexico is in a prominent position, but not for positive reasons. Third place in food waste is occupied by Panama, with 101 kilos of food discarded per capita in homes, followed by Ecuador with 96 kilos, Brazil with 94 kilos, Venezuela with 93 kilos, and Argentina and Cuba with 91 kilos each.Chilean and Uruguayan households throw away 88 kilos each year, while Colombia, at the bottom of this top 10 in food waste, wastes 70 kilos per capita.
These figures reveal a worrying pattern in the region, where food waste is a common and persistent problem.
Implications for food security
Food waste takes on an even more critical dimension when one considers the food insecurity affecting a large part of the world’s population. The UN estimates that 30 percent of the global population in 2022 suffered from moderate to severe food insecurity. In this context, food waste becomes an unsustainable luxury.
The disparity between the amount of food wasted and the number of people suffering from hunger is a brutal reminder of the inefficiencies and inequalities of the global food system. Every kilo of food wasted could mean one less meal for someone in need.
To address this crisis, it is essential to implement strategies at the individual, community and government levels. At the household level, households can adopt more conscious purchasing and consumption practices, such as planning meals, making a shopping list and storing food properly to extend its shelf life.
At the community level, food collection and redistribution initiatives can be promoted, with surpluses delivered to food banks and charities. Governments, for their part, can implement policies that encourage waste reduction at all stages of the food supply chain, from production to final consumption.
2024-07-23 23:48:08