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Climate Justice: Food Waste and Environmental Pollution

Did you know that food waste is a major source of environmental pollution around the world? According to Food and Agriculture Organization, food waste refers to the removal of viable food meant for human consumption from the supply chain or the expiry of food due to neglect, poor stock management, or questionable economic behavior (4). Food is waste is often brought about by excess production of food. Stuart outlines that there is twice as much food on the American shelves and restaurants compared to its total needs. Schanes, Dobernig, and Gözet, outline that there is an excess of 1.3 billion tons of food produced for human consumption purposes, one-third of the total food produced ends up as waste. Unknown to many food wastes is a major source of environmental pollution, which leads to wastage in freshwater and oil, the release of toxic methane gas in landfills to the environment, and the contracting of disease.

Environmental pollution is a global problem. The problem of environmental pollutions has been in existence for centuries. However, it becomes a major source of concern during the turn of the 19th century. The rise of industrial evolution characterized the 19th century. The use of machines, automobiles, trains as well as other machines led to massive pollution of the air, water, and the soli. The ever-increasing human population also meant that more trees and forest cover are cut down in favor of the human settlement. The impact of environmental pollution includes an increase in diseases such as allergic reactions and respiratory illnesses, infertile lands, global warming, environmental degradation, as well as the depletion of the ozone layer. One of the reasons why they fight against environmental pollution has not achieved substantial results is due to the lack of a holistic approach in the sources of environmental pollution. There are several sources of environmental pollution that gunner less attention as well as a concern by the public. Food waste is one of the main sources of environmental pollution which does not get enough attention in the fight against environmental pollution.

To put matters into perspective, the global population is expected to reach the nine billion mark by 2020. The increase in the human population implies that the demand for food will significantly increase. Therefore, for the current food production to meet the food demands of the human population in 20150, it needs to increase by 15% (Al-Rumaihi). The increase in food production will also result in an increase in food wastage around the globe. As a result, the increase in food wastage will ultimately lead to a massive increase in the environmental population.

One angle which is often overlooked when analyzing the impact of food waste on the environment is the essential factors that are used in food production. Several factors are essential in the process of food production. The food production process includes farming, processing, manufacturing, as well as transportation. The processes involved in food production often require several resources, which include water for the growth of crops, oil for production processes as well as insecticides, which are used in irrigations. Therefore, food wastage implies that the resources utilized in the production of food are lost or leading to environmental pollution. Hickey and Ozbay indicate that over one-fourth of the water channeled to facilitate food production processes such as irrigation in the United States is wastage. The water does not fulfill its purposes as the food is wasted. Wastage of water is a major concern around the globe owing to its scarcity. Transportation is also an important aspect of food production. Transportation aids in availing food to consumers from the places of production. As a result, food wastage leads to the wastage of oil, which is also a significant source of environmental pollution. The Food and Agricultural Organization estimates that there are approximately 300 million barrels of oil, which are lost as a result of food wastage (HLPE 34). Oil is a dangerous element that leads to air and water pollution. However, it is still a crucial component in the transport sector due to its use as fuel for transportation in cars, trucks, and airplanes. Human beings must ensure that they use it sparingly and ensure that it does not leak or go into waste. Food waste contradicts the environmental demands in the limited and careful use of oil. It leads to wastage of the resource, which exposes the environment to pollution.

Food wastes also result in chemical emissions that are released into the atmosphere, thus leading to massive environmental pollution. Landfills are common places that are utilized by people and governments to dispose of waste. In most instances, food waste often ends up in landfills as a means of disposal. The use of landfills is catastrophic to the environment. Landfills lead to the generation of toxic greenhouses, which are major contributors to global warming. Landfills also affect animals as well as vegetables. Their location in places near living organisms poses a danger to their existence. Landfills also pollute water sources due to the toxic chemicals which de-oxygenate water. Soil is also affected by landfills due to chemical emissions that affect the natural chemical components of the soil. According to Buzby et al., food waste in landfills contributes to 34% methane emissions, which are produced as a result of human activities in the United States (493). The methane gas produced from food waste in landfills occurs due to its aerobic decomposition. The presence of methane gas is dangerous to the environment. Methane gas is 21 times more devastating, in terms of its contribution to global warming, compared to carbon dioxide. Also, food waste directly contributes to the deplorable health conditions among human beings. There is a close connection between spoilt food the growth of pathogenic vectors transfer. Waste food acts as an avenue in which microorganisms that cause diseases can grow. Therefore, direct inhalation of waste food exposes people to several health hazards, which are caused by microbiological growth in the food.

Some people argue that food waste should not be included as a major concern when it comes to environmental pollution. Proponents of this notion argue that the focus on food wastage should be directed in more important areas such as food justice to the poor and hungry people in society. Other people who are against listing food waste as a serious environmental concern argue that food wastage is a corporate agenda which is used to dismiss the rights of people who the victim of the negative effects of food harms. While the arguments of people who suggest that food waste should not command as much as attentions other environmental pollutants are somewhat true, they are not sustainable in the modern times. The arguments only suggest more world problems as opposed to solving the existing. Society must focus on solutions to existing world problems as opposed to proposing more problems. Food wastage is a major concern for the environment. Food wastage leads to water and oil wastage. It is also attributed to the release of dangerous methane gases that are liable for global warming. It is important to turn to scientific evidence when it comes to analysis factors that cause environmental pollution. There is scientific evidence that is backed by data which proves that food waste should warrant more attention in the fight against environmental pollution. Abstract arguments only deviate and derail attempts to improve on environmental conservation

Conclusion

Environmental pollution is a global concern which warrants the attention of all humanity. Food wastage is one of the most damaging areas in environmental pollution, which is often ignored by society. Food wastage leads to oil and water wastage during the production and transportation process. It is also responsible for the microorganisms which cause diseases as well as emissions of hazardous gases such as methane gas, which cause global warming. Society needs to take food waste as a serious environmental pollution concern. People who argue against its seriousness, in terms of environmental pollution, only create more suggestions for world problems instead of offering solutions. The global leadership, supply chains, and society need to put more effort into preventing and eliminate food waste to make the world a more healthy and environmental-safe environment. Recognizing that food waste is a global environmental hazard is the first step towards creating a cleaner, safer, and better environment for the current and future generations.

Work Cited

Al-Rumaihi, Aisha, et al. “Environmental impact assessment of food waste management using two composting techniques.” Sustainability 12.4 (2020): 1595.

Buzby, Jean C., et al. “The value of retail‐and consumer‐level fruit and vegetable losses in the United States.” Journal of Consumer Affairs 45.3 (2011): 492-515.

Food, FAO Save. Global Initiative on Food Loss and Waste Reduction. Definitional Framework of Food Loss. Working Paper, 2014.

HLPE, F. “Food losses and waste in the context of sustainable food systems.” A report by the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition of the Committee on World Food Security. Available online: http://www. fao. org/3/a-i3901e. pdf (accessed on 2 October 2017) (2014).

Schanes, Karin, Karin Dobernig, and Burcu Gözet. “Food waste matters-A systematic review of household food waste practices and their policy implications.” Journal of Cleaner Production 182 (2018): 978-991.

Stuart, Tristram “The Global Food Waste Scandal.” Ted Ideas Worth Spreading From TED May 2012, www.ted.com/talks/tristram_stuart_the_global_food_waste_scandal#t-224612