As we move through the 21st Century, the term ‘sustainability’ has become more popular across almost all industries, and as responsible individuals, we take a step towards achieving a future that is efficient in its use of resources, without damaging the opportunity of future generations to meet their needs.
Today, sustainability also has an integral role to perform in the food industry, in order to attain a healthy food future through collaborative efforts. However, what does sustainability mean when it comes to food development?
Sustainability is not simply a buzzword when it comes to the food development industry. Rather, it is an urgent concept that interconnects the domains of health, nutrition, environment, and economics, allowing individuals to be more respectful and protective of food development and nutrition security. And sustainability in food development arises from affordable, safe, and accessible practices that help streamline natural and human resources.
Presently, sustainability in food development is not simply restricted to the dimension of food. Rather, it encompasses factors like how the food is produced, packaged, marketed, and consumed. And while considering sustainability in food development, these factors help us determine how positively food development is going to impact the resources and the environment.
Food sustainability in the present context often helps reflect our decision based on nutrition, taste, convenience, and price. And understanding the importance of food sustainability can make it easier for us to compare the products and brands more accessible and make a more informed choice.
The importance of sustainability in food development.
Due to the population explosion across the world, the global food reserve faces considerable threat with every passing year, making it even more necessary to look into more sustainable methods of food development and consumption. Besides climate change and disruptions in the food chain, the rapidly rising population has had a considerably detrimental effect on the production and distribution of food, resulting in worldwide food insecurity.
Presently, over 3 billion people across the world suffer from malnutrition, and almost 7 billion of the planet’s inhabitants are subjected to a poor standard of living and diet.
And with the goal of restoring the food and nutrition security across the planet, practicing sustainability in food development has emerged as the most viable solution.
Use Natural resources.
- Reduce use of fossil fuels and optimize water use in production.
- Optimize land use and reduce the conversion of land for agriculture.
- Design energy and water efficient food manufacturing sites.
Protect the quality of natural resources.
- Appropriate use of fertilizers and pesticides to avoid pollution of soils and waterways.
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions to help maintain air quality.
- Reverse soil loss and restore organic matter content in soils.
- Increase biodiversity through farming practices that safeguard land, water and energy resources, and wetland and forest areas.
Food ingredients from sustainable sources.
- Palm oil products certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and similar programmed. These initiatives assure that palm oil products are produced without undue harm to the environment, such as converting rainforests to agricultural land (deforestation). Similar initiatives exist for other commodities, such as soybean.
Use environmentally efficient food packaging.
- Optimize packaging use.
- Materials that have a lower environmental impact.
- Recycled materials.
Reduce food waste.
- Technical strategies, such as product reformulation to extend shelf life, and use of functional packaging to reduce spoilage and waste of perishable foods.
- Reduce waste sent to landfill (e.g., food recycling plants, donate excess food to local charities, use as animal feed).
The publication of the UN Guideline gains Business and Human Rights in 2011 helped sustainability in food development gain the relevance and impetus it demanded to be appreciated by the public.
Sustainability in food development has come a long way in negating the effects of anthropogenic activities, such as climate change, desertification, deforestation, and damage to marine and terrestrial ecosystems. It has also ushered in an era of healthy diets and sustainable means of food production.
Moving forward, as an Orosensation specialist, sustainability in food development allows me to venture deeper into the world of foods and how healthy eating can improve our standard of living.
Being aware of sustainable and healthy eating choices can take us forward as a responsible race and help us harmonize nature and its resources through the agency of food development.
Cheers,
Ashiwani