13 November 2023
Upstream Food Waste
What’s left before it reaches your plate?
A lot is made of the food that goes to waste once it has been produced with some estimates suggesting that over a third of all food produced globally goes to waste every year, with nearly 10 million tonnes of food waste being thrown away in the UK alone. This so-called “downstream waste” dominates the headlines, but did you know that even more food waste is generated during the production cycle before reaching supermarket shelves and ending up on your plates?
A staggering 40% of all food grown goes uneaten. That’s roughly 1.2 billion tonnes of food lost around the world each year, including 3 million tonnes wasted on UK farms alone according to a report by the WWF and Tesco. This is known as “upstream food waste”, which occurs at the source of food production and is often overlooked when we discuss the issue of food waste.
This ‘hidden’ food waste is often caused by adverse or variable weather, prolonged storage of crops, and poor farming practices. Pesticides remain one of the primary tools available to farmers to combat this by mitigating damage caused by pests, diseases, and weeds. Without the use of pesticides, the US National Centre for Biotechnology Information predicts there would be a 78% loss of fruit production, a 54% loss of vegetable production, and a 32% loss of cereal production. This not only results in financial loss for farmers but also wasted resources, increased greenhouse gas emissions, degradation of soil health, the loss of precious water, and a missed opportunity to combat world hunger. However, pesticide use is not without its risks and misuse of these products can have significant environmental and health consequences. It is for that reason that regulators have tight control over whether and how these products are applied.
At Eden Research, we believe more sustainable pesticides provide a viable option for curtailing food waste right at the outset of the supply chain while safeguarding our environment. We specialise in developing biopesticides as direct alternatives to conventional pesticides. Our products are made using our own registered plant-derived active ingredients and patented plastic-free formulation technology, equipping farmers with the tools they need to target diseases, ward off pest infestations, and tackle post-harvest rot to extend the shelf life of crops. Plus, they are far safer for people and the planet compared with many conventional alternatives.
We are actively working to advocate for the role sustainable biopesticides can play in improving farming practices. But while biopesticides offer a great alternative to conventional pesticides in sustainably preventing food waste, it is still important that these products are used responsibly and purposefully.
Reducing food waste at the top of the food chain should not come at the cost of pesticide overuse nor should we need to eradicate crop protection measures completely in the name of protecting biodiversity in our delicate ecosystems. Big challenges require bold innovation. Eden is providing a growing number of solutions that, if adopted widely, will have a positive impact on creating an efficient food production cycle. By harnessing bio-innovation, we can develop a more resilient food system to feed our ever-growing global population more effectively and more sustainably.
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