In a world where sustainability and respect for nature should be at the center of our actions, new research sheds a disconcerting light on global food waste. According to the study conducted byUniversity of Leiden, in the Netherlands, around 18 billion animals, raised and killed every year for our consumption, end up unused.
This data not only highlights the seriousness of food waste but also raises ethical and environmental questions of critical importance.
The impact of food waste on humans and animals
Food waste is a problem that affects the entire value chain. All. From production to distribution, up to final consumption. The implications of this phenomenon are enormous: from wasting precious resources to contributing to pollution and climate change.
But the most shocking dimension of this waste is the gigantic, unimaginable loss of animal life, often overlooked in discussions of food efficiency.
The hidden price of our behavior
The Dutch study (I link it here) provides us with a new perspective on the consequences of food waste. We already know that globally a third of the food produced is wasted, the animal component of this waste takes on a particular gravity. Animal products are estimated to constitute only 12% of food wasted, but their loss has much more significant ethical and environmental implications than that of plant foods.
Researchers suggest that reducing meat waste along the entire food chain could prevent the cycle of “life” and suffering of up to 7,9 billion animal lives. Every year. And this without affecting the level of human meat consumption.
Billions of animals killed and thrown away: a question of ethics and the environment
The loss of animal life is not just an ethical problem; it also has profound environmental implications. “The animal lives lost or wasted are enormous, but not surprising,” he says Laura Scherer, Professor of Environmental Sciences and author of the study.
Ultimately, this situation is "only" the direct result of a food system that uses approximately 75 billion animals per year for the production of 6 types of meat.
The chicken is the martyr of the world. The most vilified, killed and wasted animal, with approx 16,8 billion specimens thrown away every year. Most of the approx 70 billion of chickens killed for food spends its short life in intensive breeding, a reality that adds another layer of tragedy to this statistic.
What can we change?
This study highlights the need for greater awareness and collective action to reduce food waste. It is imperative that public policies, business practices and consumer behavior evolve to address this challenge. Only in this way can we hope to build a more sustainable food system, respectful of both the environment and animal life.
Reducing food waste and saving billions of animal lives are achievable goals. If the entire world adopted the best practices currently seen in the global supply chain, we could take a huge step towards a more sustainable and compassionate future.
It is a question of respect for life, environmental sustainability and resource efficiency. Every small action we can take to reduce food waste matters. It's time to recognize the value of every life and take action to preserve our planet. We can no longer afford to ignore the impact of our cowardly and listless habits on the world around us.
