The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) calculates that 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted each year. This directly contributes to food shortages, water stress, biodiversity loss and increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Globally, more than one quarter of food produced is wasted: with food loss and waste contributing 8-10% of total emissions.
But what does this mean?
Well, 1.4 billion hectares of land, which is equivalent to 28% of the world's agricultural area or 200 Irelands, is used to produce food that is then lost or wasted.
In addition, each year over 100 times the water that flows through the River Shannon is used to produce food that is ultimately wasted.
55% of food waste in Ireland is generated by the processing sector and 45% by commercial and household sectors.
As a result of all this, the economic losses associated with food loss, excluding seafood, are estimated to reach €550 billion a year.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) between 25% to 30% of all the food that is produced winds up being lost or wasted worldwide.
Have a look at he video at the top of article from Wexford County Council and Waterford City and County Council to help you understand more.
Learn how to cut down your own food waste here- www.stopfoodwaste.ie.
