The world is on the verge of a food crisis because the population is growing, food prices are rising, and there isn’t enough water. However, the shock is that one-third of the food produced worldwide goes to waste. A new report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) found that 1.3 billion tonnes of food are wasted annually. 

This implies that the resources required to produce the food were also wasted. Dr Charlotte de Fraiture, a researcher at the International Water Management Institute, stated, “As much as half of the water used to grow food on Earth may be lost or wasted.” Stopping this waste is one solution to the global water crisis. The water required to produce food that is subsequently squandered may be utilized for drinking water or industry, irrigating various crops, or refilling aquifers.

An annual volume of water is consumed by food that is produced but not consumed. FAO (Food and agricultural agency) estimates that, in addition to its environmental effects, food waste (excluding fish and shellfish) has direct economic repercussions for producers of $750 billion yearly. However, reducing food waste at every stage of the food chain would reduce the damage to food production and thus converse waste. 

How Can Food Directly Waste Water?

Every item of food we consume has its own water footprint, which is the overall amount of water used in its production. When we analyze the water use of each food, we can find ways to lower our overall water consumption. We require fresh water for crop production and animal sustenance. However, food production also involves irrigation, fertilizers, insecticides, and frost control. Even the production of 1 kilogram of celery demands 75 litres of water.

The food sector develops and cultivates surplus crops, depleting freshwater supplies. However, if we maximize the use of the food we have previously created, we can save one-third of the resources required to generate new food.

Essential Food and Water Waste Reduction Steps

You can limit the amount of food that ends up in the trash at the end of each week by adopting some of these simple and easy practices:

  • Do not buy more food than you can consume within a reasonable amount of time.

 

  • Ensure that all of your fruit and vegetables are properly stored, and at times apart from one another.

 

  • Make sure that you plan your meals in advance so that you are aware of what ingredients you will be using and when.

 

  • Learn how to preserve foods by canning, pickling, and fermenting them to make them last longer.

 

  • Prepare meals ahead of time and store them in the freezer.

 

  • Make use of scraps such as peelings and offcuts in new recipes the next day.

Essential Food Waste and Water Waste Reduction Steps Processed by FAO

In industrialized countries, the amount of food produced is greater than the amount required because farmers tend to produce more than is necessary to ensure that they can fulfil their obligations. When there is a scarcity, more effective collaboration between farmers could assist them in coordinating their efforts and replenishing one another’s supplies. Farmers in underdeveloped nations frequently start harvesting too early because they need money. In these countries, farmers’ cooperatives could give farmers the ability to diversify their product lines and arrange for financing or loans.

Governments and businesses should improve storage, infrastructure, and transportation to reduce food loss. Tristram Stuart says investing in post-harvest technologies like grain silos, fruit crates, refrigerated units, and pasteurization is more accessible, cost-effective, and environmentally beneficial to boost world food supplies than tearing down rainforests.

Retailers emphasize the superficial beauty and perfection of things, causing excellent food to be abandoned if it doesn’t appear “correct.” Supermarkets should offer a wider variety of “heterogeneous” produce if the flavour isn’t damaged by it. Instead of wasting so much food, shops can sell it at a discount or donate it for a tax break.

Wrapping Up

We all need to know what our diets mean and how our food affects the global water picture. We can help cut down on food waste by making smart choices. You can put leftovers in the compost instead of throwing them away. To save food, you can also plan your meals and only buy what you will use. If you cook a lot of food, separate it into individual servings and freeze them, or the best you can do is to share that food through a food sharing app with others. Eat smaller portions and think of creative ways to use leftovers.