Biography
Biography: Jamie Crummie
Abstract
Food waste is one the pressing global environmental issues. Over a third of all food produced is either lost or wasted. This corresponds to a staggering 1.6 billion tons of food every year or 50 tons every second. The culmination of this global issue has profound consequences predominantly in three areas. Food waste has a massive environmental impact. It is estimated that 8% of all greenhouse gas emissions come from food waste which resulted in food waste being incorporated into the UN’s sustainable development goals. Furthermore, the world’s population is expected to reach 9 billion people by 2050, which proposes dilemma over how to cater for this demand. Will this result in more production of food, resulting in further deforestation and even more food being wasted -exacerbating the environmental impact food waste has on the planet? In addition there is a connection to social issues with 870 million people going hungry each day, despite enough food being produced-this is the injustice of food waste. Finally, the current climate of the food landscape poses an economic threat. The value of food wasted is estimated at $1.2 trillion per year. The purpose of this discussion is to look at how sustainable technologies can play a part in having a positive environmental impact, particularly exploring platforms such as Too Good To Go- an online marketplace for surplus food. Demonstrating how technology is a driver for change both for consumers and businesses within the food sector.