Why is SO Much Food Wasted?

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A new report titled "Global food, waste not, want not" published by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers has found that 30 to 50 percent of all food produced in the world never reaches a stomach. The authors of the study warn that these figures are quite conservative. The large amounts of land, energy, fertilizers and water that are wasted in the food production have not been accounted for.

A new report titled "Global food, waste not, want not" published by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers has found that 30 to 50 percent of all food produced in the world never reaches a stomach.

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The authors of the study warn that these figures are quite conservative. The large amounts of land, energy, fertilizers and water that are wasted in the food production have not been accounted for.

In developing countries this waste is mostly due to inefficient harvesting methods, poor storage and transportation systems and an overall inadequate infrastructure which causes almost half of the food to be wasted before it even reaches the consumer.

In Europe and the US the waste is caused mainly by consumer and retail behavior. Excessive marketing and discounting promotes consumers to buy more than what they really need, and not value food. We throw away 30-50 percent of the food we buy before we even try it.

Black Bear at garbage dump via Shutterstock.

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