If the amount of food wasted around the world were reduced by just a quarter there would be enough food to feed everyone on the planet, according to the UN.
Each year 1.3bn tonnes of food, about a third of all that is produced, is wasted, including about 45% of all fruit and vegetables, 35% of fish and seafood, 30% of cereals, 20% of dairy products and 20% of meat. Meanwhile, 795 million people suffer from severe hunger and malnutrition.
In developing countries there are high levels of unintentional wastage, often due to poor equipment, transportation and infrastructure. In wealthy countries, on the other hand, there are low levels of unintentional losses but high levels of “food waste”, when food is thrown away by consumers because they have bought too much or by retailers because it doesn’t look right.
Across the globe, initiatives such as food-sharing clubs and projects aimed at reducing post-harvest losses for poor farmers are making a difference.
We’d like to hear from people from around the world who are involved in preventing food wastage. Are there food loss initiatives in your community? Do you take part in a project that tackles food waste? We’d also like to hear how you prevent food waste in your own home - and to find out about your solutions to combat the problem.
You can share your photos, videos and experiences with GuardianWitness by clicking on the blue “Contribute buttons” on this article or with the new Guardian app – just search for GuardianWitness assignments. We’ll include the most interesting contributions in our reporting.
- GuardianWitness is the home of user-generated content on the Guardian. Contribute your video, pictures and stories, and browse news, reviews and creations submitted by others. Posts will be reviewed before publication on GuardianWitness, and the best pieces will feature on the Guardian site.
