What a waste!
Ian Dury wasn't singing about surplus food but his song-title could well be a cry of despair at the modern attitude towards what we grow, sell, cook and devour.
Are most people aware of the profligacy at every stage of production and consumption, and do they fully comprehend the scale of it?
- a third of all food grown world-wide discarded;
- food-waste a major contributor to climate-breakdown, emitting nearly as much greenhouse gases as the two biggest offenders: the US and China;
- UK wasting 12 million tonnes of food a year, at a cost of £20 billion.
"Something must be done" we cry, wringing our hands as we frantically grow our own and rant at global food systems and supermarket strangleholds. Well, there are grounds for hope and indeed something is being done, and it’s on our doorstep.
BIND is a community initiative company based in Newcastle which, through a three-pronged approach, aims to reduce food-waste while changing associated public attitudes and behaviour.
The figures quoted above are taken from their website (projectbind.com) where can also be found details of their impressive programme.
Firstly, they intercept surplus food from farms and supermarkets which is then served to the public as meals in their flag-ship project the Magic Hat cafe, where staff earn the Living Wage and there are no zero-hours contracts. At weekends they operate a Pay as you Feel arrangement - asking diners to place a value on food others consider of no value.
Secondly, their work with primary schools throughout the city comprises creative initiatives including helping children understand how food-waste occurs and how to reduce and prevent it.
Thirdly, they assist businesses from the private, public and third sectors in assessing their current practice and adjusting it to be less wasteful of food. An online ' signposting tool ' just recently devised makes this scheme easily accessible for firms and individuals.
So, as the late cockney wordsmith also sang:
Reasons to be cheerful!
Paul Thompson