Combating climate change by reducing food waste

Photo: AZMAN GHANI/The Star

THE Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation in Malaysia reports that 24% of the 17,000 tonnes of food waste produced every day in the country is still edible. Approximately 1.3 billion tonnes of fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, seafood, and grains are discarded globally, accounting for roughly one-third of all food produced.

Wasting food wastes natural resources such as fuel and water used in its production. Water is necessary for all food types and at every stage of food production. Seventy percent of the water on Earth is used in agriculture for irrigation, crop spraying, and the rearing of fish and cattle. Thus, throwing away food also means throwing away a significant amount of freshwater.