The Real Cost of "Food Waste"

Most of us wouldn't think of pouring gasoline, "food" for our vehicles down the drain, but our own food production may have an even greater impact on the environment. Around the world forests are cleared at increasing rates for crops and pasture, so that now almost half the planet's land area is used for food production. Likewise the greatest portion of our freshwater use is directed to food production. Production of fertilizer uses a significant amount of energy, and excess fertilizer pollutes our waterways, and eventually oceans, with nutrients that cause algal blooms and oxygen depletion. An endless assembly line of agricultural pesticides and herbicides pollute our land and water with novel, man made chemicals whose full effects we are yet to discover. Soil tillage and livestock grazing exposes soil to erosion into waterways and factory farm monocultures leave no room for native species. A full 18 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions are attributable to livestock production alone.

In my house there is no such thing as food waste. First, we consider how much we are cooking, and for how many people. Next, we store and consume leftovers in the refrigerator or freezer. We have a dog who gets first dibs at all appropriate non human consumable leftovers, or the rare item placed in the refrigerator for a little too long.  All vegetable leftovers are utilized by my houseplants and garden, which is largely responsible for me never needing to purchase fertilizer. We need to remember that natural balanced systems exist as a cycle. Maybe the difficulty in this understanding is part of the larger problem we have with our planet.

http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/10/15/497854941/in-fight-against-food-waste-brits-find-a-worthy-battlefield-the-home

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/12/1209_051209_crops_map.html

http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/embedded-water/

https://woods.stanford.edu/news-events/news/meats-environmental-impact

http://science.time.com/2013/12/16/the-triple-whopper-environmental-impact-of-global-meat-production/

An update: a great article in Science Daily about a study that provides the carbon footprint of a great variety of food:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/11/161102075950.htm

The author describes the results as useful for individuals and catering companies who want to reduce their carbon footprint with their food choices. I agree and applaud the study, although caution that carbon footprint is only one factor to consider in evaluating the true cost of what we eat.