Environmental group warns of the repercussions of "food waste" in Iraq

An active environmental civil organization in the Kurdistan Region warned on Tuesday of the environmental and economic repercussions resulting from food waste, stressing that discarding food is not only an economic loss but also increases pressure on water, soil and natural resources and contributes to higher greenhouse gas emissions.

In a statement issued on the occasion of the "World Day of Awareness to Reduce Food Waste, observed on 29 September each year," which was reviewed, the organization "Einda" said that protecting the environment begins at home, noting that food waste also means wasting the quantities of water, energy, land and resources used to produce it.

It added that agriculture and livestock account for around 70% of global water consumption, explaining that wasting one kilogram of beef equals, by its estimates, wasting about 50,000 liters of water, while discarding one cup of milk equals wasting about 1,000 liters of fresh water.

The organization pointed out that large quantities of caught fish are discarded in some European countries for reasons related to commercial standards, noting that this represents another aspect of the waste problem in food supply chains.

Regarding climate change, it explained that decomposing food waste in landfills produces methane gas, which has a greater capacity than carbon dioxide to trap heat in the atmosphere, affirming that food waste is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions.

According to the statement, the world wastes more than 1.05 billion tonnes of food annually, about 19% of the total food available to consumers, while food waste, the organization estimates, contributes roughly 8 to 10% of total global greenhouse gas emissions.

The organization also warned of the effects of food waste on land and biodiversity, explaining that the expansion of agriculture and livestock to meet rising food demand, especially for meat, is linked to deforestation and converting land into pastures, which threatens animal and plant habitats and affects ecological balance.

On the reality of food waste in Iraq, the organization said the average amount of food wasted per person inside the home is about 101 kilograms annually, according to data it said were issued by the United Nations Environment Programme, estimating total annual food waste in the country at more than 4.5 million tonnes.

In the Kurdistan Region, it said organic waste, which includes food and vegetable scraps, constitutes between 50 and 60% of daily waste in urban areas, attributing this to overbuying of food and lavish hospitality, in addition to slow waste sorting and recycling processes.

The organization called to reduce the phenomenon by purchasing food according to actual needs and avoiding waste, as well as sorting organic waste and using it to produce compost, in addition to donating surplus food and meals, especially during events, to those in need.

It noted that the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 74/209 on 19 December 2019, which declared 29 September an international day of awareness to reduce food waste, and that the day was celebrated for the first time in 2020.

The organization affirmed that reducing food waste is not only about cutting economic losses but, in its view, is an important measure to conserve water and natural resources, reduce environmental damage and strengthen food security.