In Brief

Waste not, want not

Simple actions by consumers and food retailers can dramatically cut the 1.3 billion tons of food lost or wasted each year, says a new global campaign to cut food waste launched in January 2013 by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), and partners.Â

Worldwide, about one-third of all food produced, worth about $1 trillion, is lost or wasted in food production and consumption systems, according to data released by the FAO. Food loss occurs mostly at the production stages—harvesting, processing, and distribution—whereas food waste typically takes place at the retail and consumer end of the food-supply chain.Â

The “Think, Eat, Save: Reduce Your Foodprint” campaign aims to coordinate action and provide a global vision for the smaller initiatives of this type around the world. The new campaign specifically targets food wasted by consumers, retailers, and the hospitality industry.Â

“In a world of 7 billion people, set to grow to 9 billion by 2050, wasting food makes no sense—economically, environmentally, or ethically,” said UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner.Â

The global food system has profound implications for the environment, and producing more food than is consumed only exacerbates the pressure. The report notes the following:

•More than 20 percent of all cultivated land, 30 percent of forests, and 10 percent of grasslands are undergoing degradation.Â

•Agriculture and land use changes, such as deforestation, contribute to more than 30 percent of total global greenhouse gas emissions.Â

•Some 30 percent of marine fish stocks are now considered overexploited. Waste not, want not

Simple actions by consumers and food retailers can dramatically cut the 1.3 billion tons of food lost or wasted each year, says a new global campaign to cut food waste launched in January 2013 by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), and partners.Â

Worldwide, about one-third of all food produced, worth about $1 trillion, is lost or wasted in food production and consumption systems, according to data released by the FAO. Food loss occurs mostly at the production stages—harvesting, processing, and distribution—whereas food waste typically takes place at the retail and consumer end of the food-supply chain.Â

The “Think, Act, Save: Reduce Your Foodprint” campaign aims to coordinate...