“CULTURE” OF WASTE: FROM FIELD TO TABLE

PHOTO ABOVE - The images taken with a drone are impressive: a golden mountain rises next to a set of gigantic silos for grain storage. Next to the pile, a bulk truck looks like a toy truck and a man in a helmet becomes an almost imperceptible speck.

The mountain of corn in the open, recorded at Cooavil (Cooperativa Agropecuária Terra Viva) in Sorriso, Mato Grosso, is one of many that accumulate in the interior of Brazil, amid the harvest of the largest grain harvest in the history of the country.

According to Conab (National Supply Company), in data released on Thursday (13/7), Brazil should produce 128 million tons of corn, adding the three harvests of the 2022/2023 cycle – a growth of 13% compared to the previous cycle, which had already been a record.

The giant harvest has helped reduce inflation in the country by cheapening animal feed and the cost of meat production, which already accumulate a price drop of almost 6% in the year, according to IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics).

REPRODUCED AND TRANSLATED FROM: https://www.supervarejo.com.br/consumo/brasil-e-o-10o-pais-que-mais-desperdica-alimentos-no-mundo/

Brazil is one of the world's leading food producers, but unfortunately it is also one of the countries with the highest rate of food waste. According to IBGE data, about 30% of the food produced in the country ends up being thrown away, equivalent to about 46 million tons of food per year. This represents a significant loss both in economic terms, since food waste in Brazil is estimated at R$ 61.3 billion per year, as well as environmental and social, thus placing Brazil in the 10th position in the ranking of countries that waste the most food, according to UN data.

This waste occurs at various stages of the food chain, from production to consumption. In production, food is lost due to issues such as poor planning, lack of adequate infrastructure and climate problems. In distribution and marketing, food is discarded due to exacting standards of appearance and aesthetics, as well as logistical problems. Already in consumption, food is wasted due to excessive purchases, lack of meal planning and carelessness with the preservation of food. Each year, waste in the country reaches 27 million tons of food, 60% of which comes from the daily consumption of families.

"It is important to highlight that food waste has significant impacts on society and the environment. In addition to representing an economic loss, food waste contributes to the degradation of the environment and to hunger and poverty in several regions of the country," says Luciano Kleiman, CEO of b4waste, a Brazilian foodtech that connects retailers with food and other products close to expiration to the final consumer interested in buying products for half the price.

"To tackle this problem, joint action from different sectors is needed, including government, business and society. Measures such as the implementation of public policies, the promotion of good practices in food production and distribution, and the awareness of society about the problem of food waste are fundamental to reduce the problem in Brazil", concludes Luciano.