Food Waste & Food Poverty Research Essay
Written by James W N Miles
Food Waste, Food Poverty, Cost of living
My Research into Food Waste, Food Poverty and Cost of Living in the UK
I. Introduction
In recent years, food waste has become a growing concern globally. In the United Kingdom (UK), nearly 14 million tons of food are wasted each year while millions of people struggle with hunger and food insecurity. The high cost of living in the UK exacerbates these issues, making it difficult for many individuals and families to access nutritious meals regularly. This essay aims to provide an overview of the UK’s food waste crisis, causes, impact on society and environment; examine the country’s food poverty crisis, causes, impact on individuals and society; highlight how cost of living plays into these crises; and propose policy changes that could help address these problems.
II. Overview of the UK Food Waste Crisis
The scale at which food is wasted in the UK is alarming. According to research by Wrap (Waste Resources Action Programme), households generate 70% (10 million tonnes) of all post-farm gate food waste in the country while hospitality & food service industry accounts for another 9% (1.3 million tonnes) (Galli et al., 2019). Moreover, supermarkets discard edible foods due to cosmetic imperfections or overstocking leading to significant losses.
III. Causes of Food Waste in the UK
Several factors contribute to this issue: consumer behaviour such as buying more than they consume or not using leftovers efficiently; supply chain inefficiencies such as poor storage facilities resulting in spoilage during transportation; confusing expiration date labelling causing consumers to throw away good produce unnecessarily (Galli et al.,2019).
IV. Impact of Food Waste on the Environment and Society
The consequences are far-reaching: wastefulness contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions thereby contributing indirectly to climate change. Globally, it was estimated that if food waste were a country, it would be third only after China and USA as a major producer of greenhouse gasses (Dieter et al., 2020). Food waste also means that valuable resources such as water, energy, land, and labor were used for no reason.
V. Overview of the UK Food Poverty Crisis
The issue of food poverty is closely linked to food waste in the UK. According to a report by Fareshare (2019), there are more than 8 million people affected by food poverty in the country; they either can’t afford or don’t have access to nutritious meals regularly.
VI. Causes of Food Poverty in the UK
Low incomes and benefit cuts are among the key causes of this crisis leading to “holiday hunger” whereby children who receive free school meals during term-time go hungry during holidays (Bernstein et al.,2021). Moreover, the closure of community kitchens that provide free/low-priced meals and inadequate government policies also contribute significantly.
VII. Impacts of Food Poverty on Individuals and Society
The short-term impact on individuals includes poorer mental health due to stress from financial difficulties associated with affording basic needs like food (Knežević, 2021). Additionally ,hunger can negatively affect cognitive abilities affecting educational performance(Galli et al.,2019).. Moreover, it exacerbates social inequality and hinders efforts towards sustainable development goals through increased healthcare costs.
VIII. Overview of Cost of Living in the UK
High cost living expenses such as high housing rates make it difficult for almost half(46%) of UK households classified as ‘working poor’—those who work but still live below the poverty line—to afford three basic needs: food, clothing, and shelter (Mihalcova et al.,2021).
IX.Conclusion: Addressing the crisis through Policy Change
To address these crises effectively, governments must create effective policy measures aimed at reducing food waste while also providing relief for those experiencing food poverty (Bernstein et al.,2021). Policies to promote food waste reduction should focus on the entire supply chain from farm to table. This could include consumer education programs, improved storage facilities during transportation that prolong shelf life of perishables, and clarification of food labelling standards(Galli et al.,2019). Additionally, improving income levels through benefits and increasing access to affordable housing would improve the standard of living for many people affected by these crises ( Mihalcova et al.,2021).
In conclusion, the UK’s food waste crisis is a major environmental issue while its food poverty problem affects millions of citizens; addressing these challenges requires effective policy measures aimed at reducing food waste while also providing relief for those experiencing hunger. While it may be challenging to solve both crises at once as they are closely linked, policymakers must take proactive steps towards eradicating them through coordinated policies that incorporate all aspects affecting both issues.
Works Cited
Bernstein J., Banks E. & Pfeiffer S.(2021) Food banks and the UK welfare state in an era of Covid-19, J Soc Policy50(3), 501–520.
Dieter, C. Ahmed, S.Kelley, H.T.Rao, N.D.Riahi, K (2020) Exploring the global environmental gain of reducing food loss & waste, Global Environ Change63, syn 108310
Galli,F., Cavicchi, A. & Brunori, G.(2019) Food waste reduction and food poverty alleviation: a system dynamics conceptual model, Agric Hum Values 36(2),227–241.
Knežević, B.(2021) Social supermarkets as a solution to food waste and issues of poverty, in: The Challenges of Sustainability in Regional Development (ed. Czapiewska M.), Wyższa Szkoła Biznesu – National – Louis University, Nowy Sącz, Poland.
Mihalcova, B., Korauš, A., Prokopenko, O., Hvastová, J., Freňáková, M. Gallo, P. ,Balogová, B.(2021) Effective Management Tools for Solving the Problem of Poverty in Relation to Food Waste in Context of Integrated Management of Energy, Energies14(14),4245.
Works Cited
1. Galli, F., Cavicchi, A., & Brunori, G. (2019). Food waste reduction and food poverty alleviation: a system dynamics conceptual model. Retrieved from https://arpi.unipi.it/bitstream/11568/963155/1/Galli_Brunori_Cavicchi_AHUM_pre%20submission.pdf
2. Mihalcova, B., Korauš, A., Prokopenko, O., Hvastová, J., Freňáková, M., Gallo, P., & Balogová, B. (2021). Effective management tools for solving the problem of poverty in relation to food waste in context of integrated management of energy. Energies, 14(14), 4245. Retrieved from https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/14/4245/pdf?version=1632375607
3. Knežević, B. (2021). Social supermarkets as a solution to food waste and issues of poverty. In M. Kłodziński, & J. Żak (Eds.), Sustainable Development and Innovations in Management (pp. 25-34). Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.18559/978-83-8211-074-6/iv3