[ECO]From Farm to Fork: How Local Initiatives Are Tackling Food Waste for a Greener Future

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From Farm to Fork: How Local Initiatives Are Tackling Food Waste for a Greener Future

Approximately

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around the world is wasted, with data suggesting this figure could reach up to 40%.

Unfortunately, this has huge environmental consequences, with pollution, resource depletion, and greenhouse gas emissions all being large concerns. That said, everyone must hold themselves accountable for reducing waste, with local initiatives playing a big role in getting their communities involved.

Keep reading to explore 3 initiatives that are paving the way for a more sustainable future: gleaning programs, community gardens, and

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. 

Gleaning Programs

In addition to contributing to an array of environmental issues, food waste also represents a missed opportunity to reduce food insecurity. But what if we told you there were programs that collected excess food and redistributed it?

This is where gleaning programs come into play.

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is the act of collecting excess fresh foods from farms, gardens, farmers markets, grocers, restaurants, state/county fairs, or any other sources in order to provide it to those in need.

Communities that adopt this waste reduction approach not only help farmers and businesses minimize their environmental footprint, but also ensure locals have greater access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

Community Gardens

You may be wondering: if community gardens produce food, how does this reduce food waste?

While the primary purpose of community gardens is to provide the community with fresh produce, they also teach the community a valuable lesson: sustainable food practices.

In today’s world, a large percentage of food production is industrialized, leading many people to lose their connection to the origins of their food. By getting more people involved in the process, they can better understand the work and resources required to grow and harvest produce—which translates to more conscious food decisions.

Part of this education involves embracing imperfect produce, a significant contributor to food waste. Not only does this mean individuals can grow and consume their own “ugly” produce, but it also helps reduce the stigma surrounding it, therefore encouraging local businesses to sell these items instead of discarding them.

As an added bonus, eating locally sourced produce means minimal transportation is required, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions and lowers the carbon footprint, making it a more environmentally friendly choice.

Recycling Programs

While the above programs focus on preventing food waste, it’s also important to have a comprehensive plan in place to manage unavoidable waste. With food waste recycling, organic waste that would have otherwise been sent to the landfill is converted into useful materials and products, such as animal feed, compost, and natural fertilizers.

While there are various ways to

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, composting is a common approach for community programs. Why?

Because composting diverts food from landfills, creates a nutrient-rich material that supports local food production, and can be performed on a small and large scale, making it a flexible and beneficial solution.

Though every program is different,

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programs typically work by sourcing organic waste locally, educating and engaging the community in the process, and then using the compost to improve soil health in the community.

How Technology Supports Local Initiatives

Fortunately, getting involved in waste reduction programs is easier than ever. Not only are there an increasing number of initiatives to help the U.S. reach its goal of

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by the year 2030, but technology has played an important role in streamlining efforts.

For instance, if you’re a food producer, you can use drones and AI-driven technology to monitor crop health and environmental conditions to prevent crop loss. Local businesses, on the other hand, can use advanced inventory systems to enhance demand forecasting, track the freshness of products, and reduce surplus food waste.

And lastly, if you’re a consumer, you can use online applications to get involved in local initiatives. For instance, there are apps that help users rescue surplus food from local businesses. This, in turn, reduces waste while providing the community with great products at a discounted price.

All this is to say that there are a number of ways to get involved. With solutions available at the click of a button, participating in local initiatives is easier than ever, meaning both businesses and households can easily improve their sustainability efforts.

Final Thoughts

With millions and millions of tons of waste produced every year, many people believe their efforts won’t make a difference. However, that’s far from the truth—and the local initiatives discussed in this article are a great example of how you can help tackle the food waste crisis.

Whether you participate in a new gleaning initiative, contribute to your local composting program, or use technology to reduce waste, everyone can do their part to create a greener future.

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