Is it possible to solve the food waste problem? Cover Image

Czy możliwe jest przezwyciężenie problemu marnotrawstwa żywności?
Is it possible to solve the food waste problem?

Author(s): Agnieszka Marszałek
Subject(s): Economy
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Rzeszowskiego
Keywords: food; social inequalities; waste; prevent; Food Banks

Summary/Abstract: The purpose of this article is to discuss the problem of food loss, which has now reached sucha high level that we can speak of its global character. Food loss and waste occur at most stages of thefood supply chain. According to the FAO report, every year ca. 1.3 billion tons of food are lost or wastedworldwide. This problem also affects Poland, where about 9 million tons of food are wasted everyyear. It is a peculiar paradox that, at the same time, a large part of the global population either livesbelow the poverty line and has limited access to food or suffers from climate-related food shortages.Wasting food implies only negative effects, which can be analyzed in three main categories: environmental,economic and social.Due to the large scale of food loss and waste at both global, European and national levels, numerousinitiatives and projects are undertaken to tackle this problem. In-depth understanding of whyfood loss occurs might make it possible to limit it in the future. One way to prevent food spoilage isto donate any unused and leftover food for social purposes. Food Banks play an important role in theprocess of acquiring non-commercial food products for the poor. Moreover, initiatives aimed at raisingpublic awareness and striving to reduce consumerism are important. Reducing food loss throughoutthe food supply chain as well as ensuring sustainable consumer choices, as recommended by FAO andWHO, will contribute to improving food and ecological security.

  • Issue Year: 2018
  • Issue No: 54
  • Page Range: 474-485
  • Page Count: 12
  • Language: Polish