Whether we are discussing food banks, food shortages, or environmental impacts from our food waste, many of us are keenly aware that there is a problem that needs to be solved.The pandemic has shone a light on the need for change, and a recent study conducted by sustainability consultancy Veris, showed that 80% of the consumers questioned felt that COVID-19 had affected how they think about and value the food they buy and eat. Interestingly, 90% expected change to follow the pandemic that would lead to healthier, more sustainable and ethical food consumption across the globe.Change is a tall order, but absolutely achievable with the right technology, and the great news is the firsts steps to long term change and improvements have already been taken.

What is the Scale of the Food Crisis?

To distil the food crisis down into a single sentence, almost 1 billion people go hungry each year, whilst 2 billion people eat more food than they need. This is stunning on its own, but when you consider that 1.6 billion tonnes of food worth approximately $1.2 trillion each year is thrown away (and much of it before it even reaches a plate) the issue becomes far more emotive.Farming, producing and shipping food for it to simply be thrown away adds billions of tonnes of unnecessary carbon to the atmosphere every year, while the process of food rotting continues to produce methane, a greenhouse gas that is far more potent than the poster child of greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide, which primarily comes from fossil fuel use.

“In 10 years, there will be 1 billion additional people on the planet. More waste. More famine. This waste cannot continue."

The research by Veris identified five ‘build back better’ blocks that could help underpin this work, known as the ‘5Rs’ approach.

It encompasses interlinked themes around resilience, relocalisation, responsibility, redefinition and reimagination, and offers a practical roadmap for companies to follow.Technology can assist in every one of these areas.