ABOUT FOOD LOSS AND WASTE
About Food Loss and Waste
Pic Source: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/food-losses-waste/
Did you know? According to a study by Bappenas, food waste in Indonesia during the period 2000-2019 reached 23-48 million tons per year. This study was also supported by the data from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) in 2021, which stated that food waste was the largest composition of waste, amounting to 29.1% of the total waste in Indonesia. Food waste is divided into two categories, namely food loss and food waste (FLW). Food loss often occurs at the stage of production to distribution before becoming the final product in a less good quality food chain such as on farms, during storage, and during transport, while food waste is that which has become the final product, but the food is thrown away, such as leftovers in restaurants.
These two problems later initiate the efforts to strengthen and expand sustainable food security in support of the Priority Agenda of the G20 Presidency of Indonesia in 2022. These problems are also on the agenda in the Sustainable Development Goals, namely the 12th goal, which is to achieve responsible consumption and production, as well as the 2nd SDGs to eliminate hunger, achieve food security and good nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. From these two SDGs, it can be concluded that the problem of FLW has become a global problem.
Reflecting on the data released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which states that 1/3 of the food produced has become waste that cannot be recycled, Indonesia thus needs to be aware of the occurrence of food crisis due to the increasing problems of food loss and food waste. Not only from an economic and social perspective, but FLW also has a negative impact on the environment. According to Low Carbon Development Indonesia (LCDI), emissions from FLW have an average annual contribution of 7.29% of Indonesia’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions.
Looking at these terrible effects, what can we do in order to reduce food loss and waste in Indonesia? Here are a couple of things that we can implement in our daily life to reduce food loss and food waste:
- Shop and Store Responsibly – It is very recommended to make a shopping list and stick to it, try to only buy what you need, and of course, avoid impulsive buying! Make sure you check the expiry date and put the items closest to their expiry date in the front, so you’ll consume them first.
- Reduce Your Meal Portion – Reducing meal portions doesn’t mean you’ll starve. It is better to plan your meals to avoid large amounts of food waste. If you’re at a restaurant and the portion is too big, take it home with you so you can eat it later.
- Support Start-up with FLW Concern – Many start-ups are trying to solve the problem of food loss and waste in the world, including in Indonesia. Apps such as Surplus and DamoGo allow us to buy restaurant leftovers for half the original price! Not only will you save food, but you’ll also save money!
The effects of food loss and waste are bigger than we can ever imagine! So, what are you waiting for? You can contribute to reducing food loss and waste by doing the smallest things mentioned before. Just like what Van Gogh said, “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” Let’s change the negative stigma of society that FLW is not fit for consumption and educate those closest to us about the dangers of food loss and waste.
References:
https://lcdi-indonesia.id/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Report-Kajian-FLW-FINAL-4.pdf