FOOD SUSTAINABILITY: HOW CAN YOU CONTRIBUTE

The quest for food sustainability is one that touches all of us. Whether we realize it or not, each of us has a role to play in ensuring that our food system is nourishing, safe, and environmentally sustainable.

The good news is that there are many things we can do to make a difference. From supporting farmers who practice sustainable agriculture to reducing our own food waste, each of us can play a part in the fight for food sustainability.

WHAT IS FOOD SUSTAINABILITY?

The definition of food sustainability can vary depending on who you ask, but at its core, food sustainability is about creating a food system that is socially just, environmentally sustainable, and economically viable. It’s more like a “people, planet, profit” thing.

In other words, a sustainable food system is one that can meet our needs and that of future generations. Imagine that 300 years from now, your great great great grandson can eat healthy, natural food and breathe quality air just like you have it now or even better. That’s what we are talking about.

Suggested reading: 7 simple ways to handle and store fresh produce for longer

WHY DOES FOOD SUSTAINABILITY MATTER?

There are many reasons why food sustainability matters. For one, our planet is already facing a number of challenges, including water scarcity, climate change and soil degradation. If we want to protect our planet and ensure that future generations can inherit a healthy planet, we need to address these challenges head-on.

Food sustainability matters also because of the social injustice that exists within our food system. Farmers around the world are being paid unfairly for their products, workers in the food industry are being treated poorly, and billions of people lack access to nutritious food.

Finally, food sustainability is important because our current food system is simply not sustainable in the long term. The way we currently produce, process, and distribute food uses too many resources and creates so much waste. If we want to feed a growing population in a sustainable way, we need to make some major changes.

THE CURRENT STATE OF FOOD SUSTAINABILITY

The current state is a bit mixed up. On one hand, there are many people doing amazing work to create a more sustainable food system. On another hand, our current system is still far from being sustainable. In order to achieve true food sustainability, we need to make some major changes at both the global and personal level.

Here are a few statistics that illustrate the state of food sustainability: according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the UN,

• global agriculture currently consumes 70% of all fresh water used by humans
• agriculture is also responsible for 80% of deforestation worldwide
• it is estimated that by 2050, we will need to produce 70% more food to feed a growing population

These statistics lay it clearly before us, that there is much more to do when it comes to food sustainability.

Suggested reading: Food lost and food waste – what is the difference?

HOW CAN YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE QUEST FOR FOOD SUSTAINABILITY?

Each of us has a role to play in making our food system more sustainable. Here are a few simple but highly effective ways you can make a difference:

• Support farmers who practice sustainable agriculture: Sustainable agriculture is an approach to farming that seeks to minimize environmental damage while maximizing economic productivity. By supporting farmers who practice sustainable agriculture, you can help reduce the negative impact of agriculture on the environment. For instance, you can buy fresh produce from local farmers.
• Reduce your own food waste: It’s estimated that about 30% of all the food produced in the world goes to waste each year. By reducing your own food waste, you can help make a dent in this problem.
• Education: One of the most important things we can do is educate others about why food sustainability matters and what they can do to help. When more people are aware of the issues and understand what they can do to make a difference, we will be one step closer to achieving true food sustainability.
• Read more on Food and Nutrition Education
• Decide with your wallet when you shop for food: Each time you purchase food, you have the singular honor and opportunity to decide with your wallet. When you buy sustainably produced foods, you are sending a strong message to businesses that this is what you want more of!

SO LET US KNOW,

have you learnt something new in this article? What are you going to do to help support the quest for food sustainability? Tell us in the comments. You might as well begin educating your friends and family by sharing this article.