produce 34 % of manmade greenhouse gas emissions . Additionally , they are the largest contributor to biodiversity loss and water pollution .
Annually , it is estimated that food waste results in 170 million megatons of carbon emissions , or 539 kg per person . This is equivalent to the emissions of 42 coalfired power plants or 36 million passenger vehicles . Researchers estimate that between 2004 and 2015 , around 11.88 billion gigajoules ( GJ ) of energy was used in the food supply chains in America each year . Of that , 2.4 billion GJ was embodied in food waste .
Although these numbers are startling , consumers have the power to transform them . The supply chain progresses from producer to processor to retailer until it finally reaches the consumer . This is the point at which the most energy has been put into goods . This is also the point where the most food waste occurs . Currently , consumers account for about half of all food waste .
The Ukraine crisis has also illustrated how fragile our global food systems are . Countries in the Middle East and North Africa ( MENA ) are dependent on Ukraine and Russia for a large share of their crop imports . Because of the ongoing instability in Ukraine , farmers are not able to produce their crops or transport them . The United Nations estimates that the February invasion will affect 13 million people globally .
The consequences of food waste are extensive and have dire implications for our planet and for those wondering when they will have their next meal . However , by reducing consumer waste , increasing local and diverse food sources , and improving infrastructure to reduce imports can drastically improve the food waste crisis . Like most things , reducing food waste is just a small step in making any change , but it is a critical step for us to take while we still have time to .
Sophie Kidd has a journalism degree from Washington and Lee University where she served as the news editor of the university ’ s student-run newspaper . She has been previously featured in PLENTY , WANDER , and the Dallasbased D Magazine .
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