I was really encouraged to see ‘The 7pm Project’s’ (6/1/11) story the other night on how people are sharing unsold food with those who need it. A problem that is so important is colliding with a very simple solution – and the idea is so good it’s becoming mainstream.
The day before I read an article from the BBC releasing data that showed that world food prices are hitting a new high. They explained that for some developing nations this issue can end up in civil war. The floods in Queensland were even mentioned as a factor affecting supply which drives up the cost of food.
I learnt from the World Vision video that we Aussies waste 20% of our food. I heard for the first time from ‘The 7pm Project’ that 20% of Australians are ‘food insecure’ (that doesn’t refer to how some people go to pieces when they see vegetables on their plate) which means that they regularly have times when they cannot put three meals on the table in a day.
So here’s another potentially simple solution. What if we personally try to waste less? Or perhaps we could share the extra food or the extra cash that we’re not spending on food we don’t need?
I’m going to start by trying to account for the food that is wasted in my home over a week.
What ideas do you have?
Links:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12119539
http://www.worldvision.com.au/40HF/Videos.aspx watch the 14min video
Hey Mark,
ReplyDeleteAt the risk of starting my only post on a negative note, I feel obliged to share that the action reported by the 7pm Project is a poor substitute for real solutions to food insecurity. Oz Harvest, Second Bite and other such organisations collect left over food and distribute it to less fortunate community members through not-for-profit organisations. Whilst this might seem a noble pursuit, for want of a better phrase, from the recipient's perspective, the receipt of second hand food is far from a dignified way to achieve food security. It's also noteworthy that food security is much higher than 80 per cent nationwide. National and state-wide surveys put food insecurity - defined as running out of food and being unable to afford to buy more at some stage over a 12 month period - at about 6 percent, as opposed to 20 (though it is much higher in areas of concentrated disadvantage). Having said all that, I agree wholeheartedly that food waste is definitely an issue and most of us can do more to buy less food we don't need - particularly, I might add, the higher income earners.
Cheers!
Mark
Thanks Mark, I'm very glad to have someone passionate about the issues share some detail on the stats. I hope I didn't misrepresent the show's stats - they didn't put that show back on the web to review. We are blessed in Oz that food security isn't the issue it is in much of the world.
ReplyDeleteMark