Despite inflation, our valuable food ends up in the trash

Electric car instead of diesel SUV? Solar panels instead of gas heating? Holiday in Austria instead of traveling far? In many areas of our lives, everything revolves around how we can make them more climate-friendly. For many of us it is very important to stop exploiting our planet without hesitation. However, we tend to forget everyday things, such as our food. Because when we talk about electric cars and solar energy, humanity throws away so much food every year that, mathematically speaking, all the food produced on May 26 ends up in the garbage.

Amplified climate crisis
And with that not only a lot of money, but also an enormous amount of resources. And since it’s all about food, the saying, “Let it melt in your mouth” is particularly fitting! Up to ten percent of global greenhouse gas emissions are caused solely by food that is thrown away. Along the value chain, ie from farming to food processing and transportation to the shopping cart, vast amounts of resources are consumed. And all this to ensure that the food at the end of the day is not even eaten, but thrown away without hesitation.

Unimaginable amounts
Approximately 900,000 tons of foodstuffs suffer this fate every year in Austria. To transport this amount you need about 50,000 trucks! In a row, these would form a traffic jam from Vienna to Zurich. Food waste already takes place at harvest, during processing, in the supermarket and everywhere where food is concerned. But did you know that the biggest wasters are ourselves, the private households? Per household 800 euros per year goes in the garbage, that is 360 euros per person.

Minimum durability as a guideline
One of the reasons why so much food is thrown away within our own four walls is the lack of knowledge about its shelf life. For example, the best-before date (MHD) does not indicate the time at which a food is no longer edible. The manufacturer only warrants that it will retain all specified properties up to this point if properly stored. Most foods can be eaten after their expiration date.

Need to reconsider
As a rule, fresh milk can still be drunk two days after the best before date, hard cheese and boiled eggs can still be drunk up to 21 days later – of course only if the food does not show any abnormalities, such as a bad smell. It is best to rely on your senses here. Doing something good for the climate is often easier than you think. Those who plan their purchases carefully, look carefully to see whether food is really spoiled and who are generally careful with their food, ensure that less is produced for nothing. And thus ensures that fewer resources are wasted.

Comment: Appreciate our food instead of wasting it
It is really unbelievable: 30 to 40 percent of the food produced worldwide is not eaten but thrown away. This shows me one thing above all: food is not so important. In our own four walls we waste six times as much as supermarkets and wholesalers. We throw 360 euros a year in the trash and at the same time are angry about rising food prices, which we could easily compensate if we threw away less. It becomes even more absurd if you look at our consumer behavior with regard to other things: A new smartphone every two years? No problem. An expensive trip? Vacation should be. The list could go on endlessly, but one thing is clear: what gives our bodies energy every day to live and also has a major impact on our health – namely our diet – comes pretty low on the priority list.

As a farmer, ie the producer of this feed, but also as a father, this development gives me a lot of food for thought. In view of this, it is not surprising that so much food is simply thrown away. But the good news is, it doesn’t have to be that way. As consumers, we can actively do something to reduce food waste by becoming more concerned with what we eat. And most importantly, learn to appreciate it more. Because what is worth something to you, you don’t just casually throw it in the garbage can.

Hannes RoyerAssociation “Land creates life”