Food wastage has always been one of the global unfinished business, and although society has gradually become more aware of it, there is still much to be done. This is demonstrated by the latest data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), which show that a third of the food produced worldwide is wasted every year, or in other words, around 1,300 million tons.
In the case of Spain and according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, only in households 1.3 million tons of food will be thrown away in 2023. A figure that translates into an average of 27 kilos wasted per person and that has forced to take measures. Moreover, this waste is intended to be reduced to 50% with the new Law on the Prevention of Food Losses and Food Waste.
With its approval and its entry into force on April 3, 2025, our country takes a significant step forward in the fight to prevent food waste, from harvest to consumption, and to promote a more efficient use of all resources. The objective is also to follow the roadmap set by the European Union, which has set 2030 as the deadline for reducing the current level of food waste by 30%. By the same year, the United States is not only setting the same target, but is even raising it to 50%, as set out in the strategy proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Among the countries that are pursuing more responsible and sustainable consumption to reduce their food wastage figures, we also find Singapore, where it is estimated that annual food wastage is around 750,000 tons, and Israel, where 38% of total food production is wasted.
In addition to supporting regulations that limit food wastage and in favor of donation, the latter countries already produce and market cultured meat, an alternative that also contributes to reducing the ecological footprint and the magnitude of this problem.
Environmental, economic and social impact
Food wastage has negative consequences in several areas. On the one hand, it is estimated that the production of food that is not consumed generates 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to data from the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). In addition, when discarded food decomposes in landfills, it releases methane, a gas with a global warming potential more than 25 times greater than carbon dioxide. To give you an idea, if food waste represented a country, it would be the third largest emitter of gases behind China and the United States. In Spain, it is estimated that more than 65,000 tons of CO2 are emitted every week.
The gesture of throwing food in the trash can also has an economic impact. It represents an overall economic loss of approximately 728,000 million euros per year, considering the material, human and technical resources used in the production of food that is not consumed.
In addition, food loss has a direct social impact. It limits the capacity to sustainably feed a growing population. In fact, according to the United Nations report The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World, there are 733 million hungry people in the world right now.
Cultured meat as an ally against food waste
Cultured meat not only represents a technological breakthrough but can also play a key role in reducing waste. By integrating this alternative into the food system, it is possible to achieve a more sustainable and efficient production chain. This reduces both food waste and the associated environmental impact.
Controlled production: As it is grown in controlled environments, this type of meat allows a more precise and demand-driven production, minimizing surpluses and preventing food from being thrown away.
-Longer shelf life: The sterile conditions of the cultured meat production process offer a lower risk of contamination by pathogens, and therefore a potentially longer shelf life. This reduces the likelihood of waste both in the supply chain and in the home.
– Optimization of natural resources: Cultured meat production requires less land and water, which reduces pressure on natural resources and reduces losses associated with the production of feed and other inputs.
Biotech Foods not only shares the values promoted by all the laws against this issue, but is also committed to achieving climate change mitigation, conserving natural resources, improving the economy and combating climate change.
¡Every action counts to build a more conscious and respectful future for our planet!
