Food Wastage: A Threat to the Environment
Priyanka Bhati *
Department of Extension Education and Communication Management, College of Community Sciences, Swami Keshawanand Rajasthan Agriculture University, Bikaner (Raj.), India.
Kirtika Swami
Department of Textile and Apparel Designing, College of Community and Applied Sciences, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur (Raj.), India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The global supply chain in food system is one of the most complex and interconnected systems on the planet. It is also one of the most unsustainable supply chain. Food “waste” refers to food that is fit for consumption but consciously discarded at the retail or consumption phases. Poor management of food waste causes the loss of natural resources, human health issues, pollution of rivers and seas, the generation of methane emissions from dumps and landfills, and a missed opportunity to recover valuable energy, organic matter, nutrients and water contained in food waste. And the majority of food, almost 50kgs per capita food is wasted through household consumption. This study is done with a sample size of 55 respondents to study their knowledge about the harmful effects of food wastage management, which is identified as 77.4 percent, and their practices followed in regard to food disposal, and lastly the awareness level among respondents about the initiatives taken by government organizations to minimize food waste, which is found to be 57.3 percent. The findings suggest a need for more comprehensive awareness programs that not only promote initiatives but also educate individuals about legal provisions and global efforts related to food waste reduction. This study will help to provide a base for further initiatives that can be taken to minimise food wastage and alter the consumption pattern so that there would be sustainable use of resources.
Keywords: Food security, food wastage, climate change, food production systems