Global food waste at 1.3 billion tons

A third of all food available for human consumption is wasted, with people in wealthier countries wasting more, according to a recent study.

The study estimated food waste using consumer expenditure and found that, globally, people were wasting as much as 727 calories a day in food in 2011, or 25% of calories available for human consumption. The UN estimates annual global food waste at 1.3 billion tons, or around $1 trillion.

Researchers looked at the relationship between food waste and wealth and found a direct link between the two. They said that food waste is not a problem in developing countries but people in poorer nations begin wasting more food as they earn more money. Consumers begin rapidly wasting food when their incomes increase to $6.70 a day or more per capita. "The resources needed to produce the food that becomes lost or wasted has a carbon footprint of about 3.3 billion tons of CO²."

Climate experts have identified food waste as one of the top sustainability problems worldwide and the United Nations environment program has an ambitious goal of eliminating half of all food waste by 2030 and suggests ways to help address the huge resource waste, including reduction in personal waste and always choosing a sustainable option when possible. The UN's Sustainable Development Goals program seeks to promote sustainable food consumption and production through "energy efficiency, sustainable infrastructure and access to basic services..."