sustainability southeast manitoba

By Jack Heppner

A global concern we hear much about these days is the question of how we will be able to feed a mushrooming population. By 2040 it is expected that the present global population of 7 billion will likely have reached 9 billion. How, it is asked, will we be able to feed all these people? Better technology has allowed us to produce more food per acre in many parts of the world. But the modern agri-business model is showing signs of fatigue for a variety of reasons. There is not much optimism around that we will be able to ramp up agricultural production to keep pace with population growth.

The organization, “Provision Coalition: Processing Food Sustainably,” challenges us to think not only about producing more food but also reducing the amount of food that we waste. This research group estimates that at least $27 billion worth of food is wasted across Canada every year. But as noted in their recent report, “It is not just the products themselves that are lost; it is the energy, water, packaging and human resources used in production, transportation, retailing/food service and home storage that are lost. And when this wasted food ends up in a landfill site it produces methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.”

Food waste happens all along the way from the field to our homes. It is estimated that 49 percent of the food waste happens before it gets into our homes. Industry and governments certainly have a responsibility to reduce the amount of food lost along the way. Europe is leading the way on this file. In the UK the “The ‘Sell More, Waste Less’ program found that it is common for businesses to be able to reduce costs by 20% and increase sales by 10% through making improvements in the way their chains are managed.”

Most of us cannot do much about that big problem beyond our reach. But we can all do something to reduce the 51 percent of food waste that occurs in our homes. Here are a few suggestions:

Be careful about seeking out good deals in fliers and then buying more than you need because what you don’t need will likely get thrown out.

Don’t over-prepare by cooking way too much food for a specific meal.

Keep a tab on all food in your house so as to use what you have in time before it spoils.

Take note that the “Best Before” date on food products does not mean that on the day indicated the food ceases to be edible.

Practice the art of preparing left-overs in creative and tasty ways instead of throwing them away.

Take produce out of plastic bags to store them.

Don’t wash produce until you are ready to eat it.

Don’t rip off fruit stems before storing fruit.

Eat the most perishable items first.

Come up with your own ideas about how not to waste food.

To learn more about food waste come and join us at the Jake Epp Library on November 26 2014 6.30pm for a showing of the film ‘Just Eat It’.