Millions are starving, billions of tons are in the trash. So much food is wasted every year

UN reports show that as many as 13 percent food is lost even before it reaches stores. Improper storage, transport and processing conditions are to blame here. Fruit and vegetables are the most vulnerable to losses - perishable products that spoil quickly.

Another 19 percent We – consumers, restaurants and shops – already waste food. That's as much as 1.05 billion tons per year! Households have the largest share in this (60%), followed by restaurants (28%) and shops (12%).

Statistically, each inhabitant of the Earth throws away 132 kilograms of food per year.

Losses are not only moral

Food waste is not just a matter of ethics or economics. It is also a serious environmental problem. Producing food that is never eaten takes up 28 percent of our energy. world's agricultural land. Food waste accounts for 8-10 percent. global greenhouse gas emissions.

Financial losses exceed one trillion dollars annually.

Hunger in the shadow of waste

While in wealthier countries food ends up in the trash, in many regions of the world there is a fight for survival. The latest World Hunger Index shows that the most difficult situation is in Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chad and Madagascar.

Alarming levels of hunger have also been reported in Sudan, South Sudan, Burundi and Yemen.

What can we do?

Experts call for sensible purchasing planning, proper storage of products and freezing surpluses. It is also worth paying attention to the markings on the packaging: "use by" refers to safety, and "best before" refers to product quality.