World Food Day is celebrated all year on October 16. It was established by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 1979.
In 2024 World Food Day It is celebrated under the heading "The right to food for a better life and a better future". The subject is to draw attention to the right of all man to access diverse, nutritional, safe and accessible food. The aim of this year's celebration is to rise awareness of the request to supply adequate food for all people, especially in the face of problems specified as climate change, conflicts and economical crises. On that day, we focus on raising awareness of global problems related to hunger, food security, food waste and taking action to address them.
Food production involves a immense consumption of natural resources, energy and human work, and its waste causes not only economical but besides ecological losses. The planet has limited resources, while UN forecasts indicate that in 2050 the global population will scope 9.7 billion people. People to feed.
Food (and her waste) in Poland
Poland is simply a self-sufficient country in the production of basic agricultural goods specified as grain, meat or dairy, and our country's food safety is not at risk. The key factors affecting this state are diverse agricultural production, a strong food industry, expanding exports and a affirmative external trade balance, and an effective food distribution system. Nevertheless, according to fresh studies which IOŚ-PIB conducts in the framework of Poland's reporting to the European Commission and which on 27 September 2024 were published by Eurostat, 4.5 million tonnes of food waste were generated in Poland in 2022 and the food wasted exceeded 4.8 million tonnes. Most, due to the fact that as much as 56% of these wastes come from households, which means that it is consumers who contribute to this most – all Pole wastes an average of 123 kg of food per year, 69 kg/person is produced in households.
But that is not all. Wasted food in Poland is liable for emissions of about 13 million tonnes of greenhouse gases in eq CO2.
The European Union is not wasting time on food waste
Waste is simply a problem facing the European Union. According to the Feedback EU study “No Time To Waste”, the Community wastes more food than it imports – as estimated by up to 153.5 million tonnes of food per year. To combat this, the European Union has imposed an work on all associate States to reduce food waste by 50% by 2030.
Effect? Although countries have taken action to reduce food waste, their ambition and results vary greatly. The European Commission proposes legislative solutions to increase the effectiveness of action, including the amendment of the Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008. What will this mean for Poland? Reduce the quantity of food waste produced at the processing phase by 55 000 tonnes and in subsequent stages: trade and consumption by 980 000 tonnes overall.
On planet Food Day, let's talk about her waste
World Food Day is simply a good chance to draw public attention to the problem of food waste, waste of resources and climate impacts. It is besides time to point out how large the social dimension has this problem. On the 1 hand, 10% of food available to consumers in the EU goes to waste, while on the another hand, 37 million people in the EU cannot afford to eat a full meal at least all another day.
The simplification of food losses and waste is widely recognised as a key way of addressing the challenges of global food security, global warming, the protection of natural resources and ecosystems and ensuring access to food for those in need.
Each of us can participate in planet Food Day celebrations and work to improve the food situation in Poland and in the planet by:
- Reducing food waste in your regular life,
- Supporting local producers and selecting sustainable products,
- Awareness and education of others in the field of not wasting, respecting food and land resources,
- Engaging in charities and supporting organizations working to fight hunger.
We cannot be indifferent due to the fact that each of us is responsible. Together we can change our habits and attitudes towards food to reduce waste and improve the food situation worldwide.
Dr. Sylwia the Elbe, expert of the IOD-PIB
