Food Loss and Waste

Year 9 & 10

Overview

Throughout this topic, you will learn about the critical issue of food and nutrition security and will strive to answer the inquiry question:

‘What are the greatest challenges of Food Loss in developing countries, and how can we contribute to a greater impact on food and nutrition security in these countries?’

You'll Learn To

What Do You Already Know?

Often, we surprise ourselves by having a deeper understanding of a topic than we realised. Think through the following questions before beginning. 

  1. What is the difference between food loss and food waste?
  2. Why is it important for a sustainable world?
  3. What are the sustainable development goals?
  4. Do Australians have to worry about food loss and waste?

Mind Mapping

Use the next few slides and your prior knowledge to create a mind map to highlight the challenges and opportunities for Food and Nutrition Security.

Food Security

Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. It encompasses four key dimensions:

  1. Availability: The presence of food in adequate quantities, taking into account stock and production.
  2. Access: The means to acquire the food, either by producing it, buying it, or through social entitlements.
  3. Utilisation: It must provide the necessary nutrients. This depends on the quality of the diet, clean water, sanitation, and healthcare.
  4. Stability: Access to food at all times, without the threat of interruptions due to economic or climatic shocks, political instability, or other crises.

Asia and Oceania

Asia and Oceania, with their diverse climates, cultures, and economies, play a pivotal role in the global food system. However, these regions face unique challenges that can threaten food and nutrition security.

  1. Rapid Population Growth: There’s a pressing need to ensure that growing populations have access to nutritious food.
  2. Agricultural Dependence: These regions rely heavily on agriculture, making them susceptible to the impacts of climate change and market fluctuations.
  3. Urbanisation: Rapid urban growth can strain food distribution systems and alter traditional food habits.
  4. Economic Disparities: The contrast between developed and developing countries in these regions means varied access to food, leading to pockets of both undernourishment and obesity.

What is Food Loss?

Food loss refers to the decrease in quantity or quality of food resulting from decisions and actions by food suppliers in the chain, excluding retailers and consumers.

It primarily occurs during the production, storage, transportation, and processing stages. Factors like inadequate infrastructure, lack of technology, pests, diseases, and inefficient supply chains can contribute to food loss.

What is Food Waste?

Food waste refers to the discarding or alternative use of food that is safe and nutritious for human consumption. This usually arises due to decisions and actions by retailers, food service providers, and consumers.

Factors such as aesthetic standards, food expiration dates, and consumer behaviours can contribute to food waste. Unlike food loss, which occurs earlier in the supply chain, food waste typically happens at the retail and consumption stages.

Excellent work on those mind maps!

To fully consider how these issues directly tie into our food and nutrition security discussions and understand the challenges of food loss, it’s essential to grasp the global scale of the problem. The following three videos give us a snapshot of the magnitude of food loss and waste, its implications, and the role everyone has to play. While watching, consider how these issues directly tie into our food and nutrition security discussions. Remember, every challenge presents an opportunity for a solution.

A Farmer's Tale on Food Loss and Waste

My tale isn’t just of sowing seeds and reaping crops; it’s a testament to the silent struggle against the unseen wastage that shadows our harvests.

In this corner of the world, where each grain tells a story, food loss begins as an unspoken saga. From the moment the seeds kiss the soil to the journey of crops reaching your plate, there are tales of loss – some seen, many unseen. Fresh produce succumbing to the wrath of untimely rains, succulent fruits never meeting the gaze of a buyer because they don’t shine ‘just right’, and grains of rice left behind because the market is too far a trek for a smallholder like me.

But amidst these tales, there’s hope. As I integrate age-old wisdom with new sustainable practices, I stand as a guardian against waste. Crop rotation, organic pest control, and timely harvesting are my armours. And yet, the battle against waste isn’t fought in the fields alone; it stretches to the horizon, reaching the bustling cities and quiet homes.

While retailers stack their shelves with the finest, many, like myself, strive to bring you the rest – the imperfect yet perfectly edible gifts of nature. It’s here, in the simplicity of a shared meal, that the fight against food waste culminates. It’s where the choices you make can salvage the efforts of countless farmers.

So, as I stand amidst the symphony of a thriving farm, I invite you to join me. Together, let’s embrace the less-than-perfect, plan our meals, store food wisely, and share what we can.

 

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