Food Waste: Research on How to Avoid It by Studying South Korea Versus Australia

Abstract

Food waste has become a critical concern, contributing to economic hardships, social pressures, and environmental destruction around the globe. This research examines the existing literature about food wastage by comparing South Korea and Australia. After reviewing the currently known literature about the necessary population characteristics and factors contributing to food wastage, these findings are used to analyze the prospective causes and solutions to food wastage in Australia and other affected countries. Also, the research aims to recommend strategies that can be applied to minimize food wastage in Canada, Brazil, and South Africa. This research suggests that Australia needs to adopt technology and implement strict laws to curb food wastage. Other countries are supposed to look for efficient ways to create value from food waste, offer household education on proper methods of avoiding food waste, and adopt effective and sustainable packaging techniques. Although many findings presented in this study have emerged from various social and economic backgrounds, they offer a significant overview of the existing problems and solutions to food wastage both in Australia and other parts of the world. Thus, this script provides a foundation for the expansion of research about food wastage in the world.

Keywords:

Acknowledgment and Foreword

Chapter One

1.0 Introduction to the Study

Reducing food wastage is a key milestone towards sustainable food production and meeting global food requirements. Food waste is organic waste produced during food consumption, after harvesting, and it is produced in all stages of the food production chain (FAO, 2013). The most critical form of food wastage is throwing away of food that could have been consumed. Food waste has direct health and economic implications for many people around the globe (Move for hunger, 2019). About one-third of the food produced for human consumption is wasted every year around the world. Industrialized countries have high levels of food waste in the world. For, example, Australia produces about 670 tons of waste food each year. With the current population growth and increased resource scarcity, the decline of avoidable food waste is likely to enhance the availability of food in the future. The United Nations projects that the world population will increase to about 9.3 billion in 2050. As such, food production needs to increase by 70 % from the current quantities.

Avoidable food wastage has adverse ecological effects. Food wastage means a loss in the resources used in production. Moreover, waste food is a major source of greenhouse gases. When waste is disposed of to the land, it decomposes and emits methane gas which traps heat in the atmosphere 25 times more than carbon (IV) oxide. About 14 percent of carbon (IV) oxide emissions result from waste food (Move for hunger, 2019). The food left to rot in the land also affects biodiversity by polluting water sources. In Australia, food wastage is responsible for 23% of total greenhouse gas emission (FAO, 2013). South Korea has better food waste management practices that can end food wastage in Australia and other countries if adopted. This paper analyzes the extent of food wastage in Australia compared with South Korea its causes and implications. Finally, it provides solutions to better food management practices that can end wastage in Australia and other parts of the world.

1.1 Background of the Study

Food productions play a significant role in all societies and is a key pillar to ensure sustainable development. The production and consumption of adequate, affordable, and nutritious food while preserving the natural resources and bionetworks that make the production of food viable is a critical concern. Sustainable food chains are vital to addressing the global challenges of food insecurity, poverty, and appropriate nutrition (Berry, Dernini, Burlingame, Meybeck, and Conforti, 2015). In developed countries such as Australia, food wastage occurs during the consumption stage while in developing countries most food is wasted during post-harvest and storage time.

Currently, the amount of greenhouse gases produced globally is rising each day. The increasing levels of greenhouse gases are brought by emissions from rotten food waste. When waste food decomposes in the landfill, it produces methane gas which leads to trapping of excess heat in the atmosphere (ARCADIS, 2019). The trapping of heat in the atmosphere leads to global warming which consequently leads to climate change. Moreover, waste food pollutes the environment endangering the existence of other living organisms. As such, there is a desperate need to develop effective strategies that can provide a permanent solution to the menace of food wastage and the resulting environmental destruction.

The United Nations environmental report indicates that 1.3 Billion tons of food are wasted each year. In Canada, about 58 percent of total food bought is wasted or lost. In South Africa, about 10 Million tons go to waste. In Brazil, 40,000 tons of food is wasted daily. This contributes in a great way to the world's total food wastage annually. Food wastage is a global problem that not only affects food production systems but also threatens environmental safety (ARCADIS, 2019). It is essential to come up with solutions to the current food wastage problem to save the environment.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Climate change and global warming are the effects of poor environmental management practices. The global community has come up with various strategies to curb the menace. However, for a long time, most of the strategies used have had little fruits. Food wastage is one of the factors that contribute to the destruction of the environment. Although food wastage does not contribute directly to environmental degradation like other substances, it decomposes and releases methane gas which traps heat thus causing global warming. Moreover, methane gas can trap heat 14 times more than carbon (IV) oxide. Therefore it is a major cause of global warming.

A landfill can cause harm to people due to air pollution. The polluted air produced by a landfill is associated with respiratory diseases and some types of cancer (Move for hunger, 2019).Gases produced from a landfill do not saturate in one place, but they find their away in the nearby homes and businesses. Thus, the gases cause disturbance to people and other human activities. Landfills are also a potential source of fire. Some of the huge fires that have broken in parks and other areas have originated from landfills. Moreover, a large amount of waste food disposed of in landfills can combine with other substances and release poisonous chemicals which affects water bodies. Also, wild animals such as birds and scavengers that look for food in landfills can eat dangerous substances which can affect their health.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The general objective of this study is to compare the food wastage levels in Australia and South Korea. Moreover, the study aims to find out what Australia can learn from South Korea to ensure minimal food wastage.

1.3.1 Specific objectives.

i) To determine the best solutions to food wastage in Australia.

Ii) To find out other countries that battle with food wastage around the globe.

iii) To evaluate the strategies that can be implemented to reduce food wastage in other countries in the world.

iv) To find out if the common food wastage prevention strategies can be implemented in Belgium.

v) To investigate the most common methods used to prevent food wastage in different countries around the world.

vi) To establish the unique methods that most countries use to fight food wastage around the globe.

1.4 Research questions.

1. To what extent can Australia's food wastage level compare with South Korea?

2. What can Australia learn from South Korea food wastage prevention techniques?

3. Which strategies can countries use to minimize food wastage?

4. Can the common food wastage prevention techniques be applied in Belgium?

5. Which are the most commonly used methods to prevent food waste around the world?

6. What are the unique techniques that countries apply to reduce food wastage around the world?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is essential in different aspects. Firstly, it shows the environmental effects of food wastage and also provides solutions that can be used to minimize the wastage of food across various parts of the world. Moreover, it assists in providing insights that other countries such as Australia can apply to curb the menace of food wastage. The findings of the study provide the unique methods that countries can apply to solve the recurring problem of food wastage. Also, this research is a unique template that if adopted can offer a long-lasting solution to the problem of food wastage in all parts of the world.

1.6 Limitations of the Study

The study relies on research and literature from scholars and internet sources. Some of the information provided may not be accurate.

1.7 The Scope of the Study

The study covered all comparison areas of food wastage between South Korea and Australia. Also, the study analyzed what South Korea is doing best to prevent wastage of food. Additionally, the research provides solutions that Australia can apply to minimize food wastage. The study analyzes the most common methods that are used to prevent food wastage in other countries across the globe. Finally, the study highlights the unique methods that different countries use to prevent food wastage.

1.8 Conceptual FrameworkAccording to the United Nations environmental report, about a third of all food produced in the world goes into waste. In developed countries, the waste mainly happens during food consumption stage while in developing countries food wastage happens majorly due to poor post-harvest practices (FAO, 2013). Moreover, waste food was cited as one of the major cause of global warming through the release of methane gas after decomposition. Waste food not only contributes to global warming but also produce poisonous gases that can cause respiratory problems and different forms of cancer. Preventing food wastage would save on the cost of resources such as money and water which are used in food production. The reduction of food wastage can help minimize global warming and emission of poisonous gases in the atmosphere. Minimizing food wastage can help the world achieve t...