Food waste and loss costs around $940 billion per year. An international standard was just recently introduced that provides requirements and guidance for quantifying and reporting the weight of food and inedible parts removed from the supply chain. The standard will, hopefully, minimize food waste, realize the economic benefits, enhance food security, improve natural resource use efficiency, and reduce the environmental impact. Additionally, this standard is hoping to channel more food to the 800 million people who are undernourished around the world. The goal is to cut food waste in half by 2030 which, in turn, will make a huge impact in our fight against global warming.
Another way besides this new standard to fight hunger and global warming is with the help from both the Omega Institute and Enactus. The Omega institute is putting out programs to help people with personal and environmental health. These programs consist of teaching and advocacy for water conservation and waste reduction, alternative energy, and local farm-to-table sourcing. They want to use local vendors, and install a mindset in people to take initiative for a sustainable future. Any extra food Omega has is sent to Dutchess Outreach’s Lunch Box and food scraps are composted.
Enactus is also finding ways to help with 1 Race 2 End Waste, the global initiative by Enactus to reduce food loss and waste in developing and developed countries. Food loss and waste are critical challenges in the fight to reduce hunger, protect the environment, and grow economic opportunity. If food waste was a country, it would be the third largest emitter of greenhouse gases. Enactus uses students to engage in the community to help solve the problems.
Food waste has a very big impact on developing countries as well. This initiative will be launched September 28-30 at the Enactus World Cup where all students from different countries and leaders can develop plans to reduce food loss and waste.
These initiatives and programs may just be the answer we are looking for in the fight to end hunger and food waste. Take action today.
