Nearly 40% of the food produced globally is wasted, while food and agriculture account for 70% of global biodiversity loss, as agricultural land expands at the expense of nature and habitat. In 2022, the United Nations estimated that 828 million people faced hunger, even as edible food goes to waste, along with the energy and resources needed to produce it. Furthermore, the disposal of food waste and organic matter in landfills is a major source of global methane emissions, significantly accelerating climate change.
To address these issues, we must move beyond the concept of “food waste” and recognize it as “food” for something else. Our food system needs to become circular and mimic nature, where nothing is wasted. Some companies are addressing this by collecting surplus food from grocery stores at low cost and transforming it into animal feed, compost, or disposing of it in landfills.
This approach also alleviates pressure on nature by reducing the demand for grain grown for animal feed, which contributes to the destruction of millions of acres of natural habitat, including grasslands often plowed to produce animal feed products.
In the United States, nearly 40% of the 80.6 million tons of food waste generated each year comes from households. While some communities offer curbside composting programs, participation rates are often low. Recognizing the value of discarded food as an asset can shift our perspective to see food, in any form, as always having potential.
Once businesses and governments recognize the opportunities in a circular food economy, we can develop solutions that benefit everyone. Transitioning to a system where food is continually repurposed will help address hunger, reduce biodiversity loss, and mitigate climate change impacts.
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