20-September-2024-Editorial

ROLE OF FOOD BANKS IN ADDRESSING FOOD WASTE AND MITIGATING CLIMATE CHANGE

Food banks play a critical role in addressing food insecurity by redistributing surplus food to those in need.

They also contribute significantly to mitigating climate change by reducing food waste, which, when left to decompose in landfills, produces harmful greenhouse gases like methane.

This not only helps in feeding the hungry but also curbs emissions, aligning with global sustainability goals.

Food Banks: Definition and Role

• Non-profit Organisations:
  Food banks are non-profit entities focused on providing food to individuals and families who cannot afford it. They often collaborate with food pantries, soup kitchens, and other local organisations to distribute food.
• Surplus Food Recovery:
  One of their major functions is rescuing excess food from the supply chain and redistributing it to communities in need, thus preventing food waste.
• Direct Distribution:
  While many food banks operate through intermediaries, some directly handle food distribution themselves, ensuring timely delivery to vulnerable populations.

Impact of Food Banks on Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Emissions Avoidance:

• One food bank has the potential to avert greenhouse gas emissions equal to removing approximately 900 gasoline-powered vehicles from the road each year.
• This is similar to the amount of carbon that could be absorbed by 63,000 tree seedlings grown over a decade.

Collective Impact:

• In 2019, global food banks collectively avoided over 12 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions by redistributing 75 million tonnes of food that would otherwise have ended up in landfills.

Climate Benefits:

• Reducing food waste helps cut methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas. Methane has over 80 times the heat-trapping capacity of CO2 in its first two decades in the atmosphere.

Enhancing Food Security

Supporting Vulnerable Populations:

• Food banks not only mitigate climate change but also address hunger. In 2019, food banks globally served over 66 million people, ensuring food security for the most vulnerable sections of society.

Aligning with Global Goals:

• These efforts support the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12.3, which aims to halve food waste by 2030.
• The food recovery model, termed Food Recovery to Avoid Methane Emissions (FRAME), aligns well with this target by reducing both food waste and greenhouse gas emissions.

Current State of Food Waste

Global Food Loss:

• The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that about 31% of food produced worldwide is wasted. Of this, 14% is lost after harvest, and 17% is wasted at retail and consumer levels.

Food Waste in India:

• Indian households waste approximately 40% of the food they purchase, translating to about 78.2 million tonnes of food wasted annually.
• This food wastage represents a financial loss of nearly ₹92,000 crore each year.

Regional Variations in South Asia:

• In South Asia, food waste varies significantly. Bhutan has the lowest per capita food waste at 19 kg per year, while Pakistan has the highest at 130 kg per year.
• India’s per capita food waste is about 55 kg annually, with rural areas wasting less food than urban areas.

Environmental Impacts of Food Wastage

Methane Emissions from Landfills:

• When food waste decomposes in landfills, it produces methane, a greenhouse gas that is much more potent than carbon dioxide in the short term.
• Food systems contribute to one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions, with food loss and waste making up half of this.

Global Emissions from Food Waste:

• In 2017, food waste was responsible for emitting up to 9.3 gigatonnes of CO2 equivalent, contributing significantly to climate change.

Way Forward

Setting Targets:

• Governments should set clear and measurable goals for reducing food waste, both at the national and international levels.
• These targets should align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 12.3) to halve global food waste by 2030.

Promoting Sustainable Practices:

• Encouraging sustainable food production and consumption is essential.
• This can be achieved through educational campaigns, incorporating food waste reduction in school curriculums, and incentivising businesses to adopt sustainable practices.

Strengthening Food Recovery Networks:

• Governments and organisations should enhance food recovery programs that redistribute surplus food to those in need.
• Utilising technology and local community efforts can help create more effective food recovery systems.

Improving Waste Management:

• Effective food waste management systems, such as large-scale composting, biogas plants, and waste-to-energy projects, are necessary to minimise landfill waste and repurpose organic matter.
• This reduces methane emissions and lowers the environmental footprint of food systems.

Conclusion

Food banks are crucial in tackling both food insecurity and climate change by redistributing surplus food and preventing it from going to landfills.

Supporting policies that encourage food recovery initiatives, increasing awareness, and improving waste management systems can greatly enhance the role of food banks in achieving global climate and food security goals.

Through collaborative efforts, we can reduce food waste and make progress toward a more sustainable and equitable future.