Food waste, i.e. edible food that has been spoiled or thrown away before consumption, is the most common cause of landfill. About one third of the food produced by people in the world is lost or wasted. Food waste takes up valuable space in landfills and contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.
How often do you bring home more food from the grocery store than you need or throw forgotten leftovers into the back of the fridge?
We must eat and drink; we must also take responsibility for the conscious operate of our resources.
Agriculture can solve this problem. Farmers have been reducing waste and improving efficiency for decades; however, they cannot do it alone. We must remember to operate our resources at home and on the farm.
Reusing food waste on the farm
Farmers redirect discarded or leftover food as cow feed and farm animals. Potato peels, cranberry husks, expired cereals and imperfect sweets are just some examples of waste that can be fed to cows. Using these leftovers in the cow’s diet saves money for the farmer.
The next time you enjoy cranberry juice or mashed potatoes at your favorite restaurant, there’s a good chance that the leftovers have been diverted and used to feed cows and ultimately produce the cheese and milk you’ll enjoy.
Reducing food waste at home
You can reduce food waste at home by sticking to your shopping list, storing leftovers properly and reusing them creatively, and understanding food expiration dates. Best-before and best-before dates are provided by the processor to ensure the best quality and are often still secure to eat after the printed date.
Instead of throwing away watermelon rinds this summer, try composting the rinds. You can compost fruit and vegetables, coffee grounds, egg shells and nuts by throwing them in the bin with garden waste and sawdust. Carbon and nitrogen in yard waste and food scraps work with moisture to break down organic matter. Compost can enrich the soil and reduce your carbon footprint.
According to a recent report from the Department of Natural Resources, using or composting the amount of food sent to landfills in 2020 would reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking 600,000 cars off the road each year.
Urban and rural renewable energy
Organic waste, such as food scraps, takes up space in landfills and emits methane. Many landfills operate technology to collect methane and convert it into energy to power equipment and fleet vehicles. There’s a good chance that the garbage truck collecting your waste will be powered by renewable energy.
Dairy farmers can also extract methane using aerobic digesters, converting the gas emitted from cow manure into energy that powers farm buildings and homes.
Saving water on the farm
Water is a valuable resource for farmers. It is used to irrigate crops and feed animals. Water can be used many times before being returned to the natural water cycle. The same water can be used on a dairy farm four times: first to frigid the milk, then to water the animals, then to tidy equipment, and finally to irrigate crops.
Saving water at home
You can save water at home by turning off the tap when brushing your teeth, turning on your washing machine or dishwasher only when fully loaded, and monitoring your water usage in your water bills.
Working together to achieve goals
Farmers are original thinkers and innovators. They operate all resources to maintain their bottom line and facilitate the environment. Reducing, reusing and recycling resources helps farmers be more competent and protect the environment.
You can facilitate at home by using your resources wisely. Plan your grocery shopping in advance and check your water bills to monitor water usage.
Together we can fight food waste, save water and provide solutions to minimize our impact.
