Amid growing concerns about food waste, which leads to increasing global hunger, the Holy Father has called for prayers to mitigate both.
In a video message, the supreme pontiff said, “We need to act. But without prayer, we will remain powerless.”
“What do you feel about 318 million people experiencing acute hunger every day?”
Asking a rhetorical question, the 70-year-old leader of Christians in the world queried, “What do you feel about 318 million people experiencing acute hunger every day?”
Globally, nearly one-fifth (about 19%) of all food produced, or 1.05 billion tonnes annually, is wasted, even as hundreds of millions face hunger. Households generate 60% of this waste, with food services and retail contributing the rest.
Over 700 million people go hungry, while this waste causes significant environmental damage, generating 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Approximately 1 billion meals are wasted daily, with an average of 79 kilograms of food wasted per person annually.
Pope Leo’s Message calling for an end to food waste and hunger. Credit: Vatican Media.
Also, food loss and waste cost the global economy about $1 trillion annually and represent a massive waste of water, land, and energy.
While over 700 million people face hunger, the food wasted in households alone could provide over a meal a day for every person in need.
This means that if food waste were a country, it would be among the top emitters of greenhouse gases, contributing roughly 10% of total emissions. 60% occurs at the household level, 28% in food services, and 12% in retail.
Food waste is a global problem
Food waste is a global problem, with increasing similarity in household food waste levels between high and low-income countries.
While in high-income countries, households buy too much, misunderstand date labels, or prepare too much food, in low-income countries, there is a lack of infrastructure (refrigeration, transport) and inadequate storage facilities at the farm level cause food to spoil before it can reach markets.
Food waste directly correlates to food insecurity and poverty, with wasted food representing lost income for farmers.
The decomposition of food in landfills generates methane, a potent greenhouse gas, accelerating climate change and creating a vicious cycle that lowers crop yields and reduces food security.
“I invite you to join me in prayer that we may seriously commit to avoiding food waste.”
Although traditionally, the month of May is dedicated to Our Lady, known as May Devotion, the Vicar of Christ invited all to pray for an end to food waste.
“This May, I invite you to join me in prayer that we may seriously commit to avoiding food waste and to ensuring that everyone has access to quality food every day,” he said.
Against this backdrop, the successor of St. Peter urged everyone with the words, “Join our prayer, through online audio or video, today.”
Editor’s Note: Featured photo is courtesy of www.pbs.org.
