Food security and waste: the implications
A shortage is an insufficient quantity of food to meet the needs of an entire population . As such, it threatens the food security of individuals. Food security is defined by the FAO as "the guarantee of physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food".
The shortage is currently affecting several essential foods, including wheat. A heat wave has impacted wheat harvests in Canada and Europe. Global wheat production is estimated to have decreased by 13 million tons in 2021. In Europe, heavy rainfall has reduced harvests: 7.3 million tons are expected, while the need is for 9.5 million tons.
Furthermore, the wheat shortage has led to higher prices, making wheat more attractive to some farmers who prefer to produce more wheat than green vegetables. The latter have also been affected by weather events, resulting in disappointing yields.
Finally, the food shortage is affecting the fishing industry, which is being exploited unsustainably. In fact, 88% of fish stocks are overfished, at risk of depletion, or already depleted. You can find an article on the negative impacts of overfishing here
Impacts on food prices: multiple factors at play
Threats to food security
According to the FAO, food security means that everyone has access at all times to sufficient food for an active and healthy life.
In 2020, 811 million people were affected by hunger. Food insecurity affects not only developing countries, but also developed countries such as France. In fact, 3.5 million people in France are food insecure.
This insecurity can stem from various sources and affects a diverse population, including single-parent households, low-income households, and people with precarious employment. These figures are rising, and inflation is exacerbating food insecurity in France and around the world.
Reduce losses and waste, and ensure sufficient food supplies
According to the FAO, at the production level, reducing losses before and after harvest is the beginning of reducing the cost of nutritious food, and this price reduction can increase access to food for populations.
This can also be applied at the consumer level, both in households and in the food service industry. Reducing losses and waste leads to significant annual savings. Indeed, the cost of food waste in France amounts to €16 billion per year.
Adopting a more sustainable food system and reducing waste by 50% at all levels of the supply chain would generate savings of €8 billion per year, which would contribute to food security in France.
According to Statista, the restaurant and household sectors account for the largest share of food waste in France, closely followed by production. To strengthen the sustainability of food systems, innovation is needed to ensure the effectiveness of waste reduction efforts.
FOR A BETTER FUTURE
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