IN the wake of reports that 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted every year, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Nigeria and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative,
Daouda Toure, has advised the populace to make food choices and informed decisions that will limit emissions and reduce food waste.

Speaking at an event to mark this year’s World Environment Day celebration, he said: “Making informed decision therefore means, for example, that you purposefully select foods that have less of an environmental impact, such as organic foods that do not use chemicals in the production process. Choosing to buy locally can also mean that foods are not flown halfway across the world and therefore limit emissions.

Globally, June 5 of every year is dedicated to promoting awareness on the importance of protecting our planet, identifying problems related to the environment, such as climate change, global warming, disasters and conflicts, harmful substances, environmental governance, ecosystem management and resource efficiency and taking corrective actions in the interest of our collective survival.

This year’s theme “Think.Eat.Save: Reduce Your Foodprint” is an anti-food waste and food loss campaign that encourages everyone of us to pay attention to our consumption patterns and take urgent steps to reduce our foodprint.

According to recent UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports, 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted every year, and this is equivalent to the same amount produced in the whole of sub-Saharan Africa, of which Nigeria is inclusive. While the planet is struggling to provide us with enough resources to sustain its 7 billion people (growing to 9 billion by 2050).

The report estimates that a third of global food production is either wasted or lost and while one in every seven people in the world go to bed hungry; and more than 20,000 children under the age of five die daily from hunger. Food waste therefore constitutes an enormous drain on natural resources and is a major contributor to negative environmental impacts.

“Therefore this year’s theme encourages all of us to become more aware of the environmental impact of the food choices we make and empowers us to make informed decisions.

“This year’s theme ethically challenges us to take action from our individual homes and then witness the power of collective decisions you and others have made to reduce food waste, save money, minimise the environmental impact of food production and force food production processes to become more efficient.
“It is also important to note that Climate change in form of increases in the incidence of extreme weather events, floods, production shocks, population growth, increasing global affluence, stronger linkages between agriculture and energy markets, and natural resource constraints will all impact on food prices.

This is why, as a part of our ongoing partnership with the Federal Ministry of Environment, UNDP has supported the development of major policies as part of the critical measures for reducing the underlying risks of climate change.

“We should see it as a major opportunity to reshape our economic thinking, revamp processes of reform, and reframe the approaches to development delivers more effectively on the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainability,” he added.