U.S. $165 Billion Dollar Food Waste Dilemma

Aug 22, 2012

Food Waste Causing Harm to Nation`s Water Supply

The numbers are shocking - 40 per cent of the food in the U.S, or approximately $165 billion dollars’ worth of food waste is generated every year. This is alarming to advocacy groups like Natural Resources Defense Council who released the report earlier this week. The Council says that the food waste is damaging the nation`s water supply.

"Food is simply too good to waste," the report says. "Given all the resources demanded for food production, it is critical to make sure that the least amount possible is needlessly squandered on its journey to our plates."

While there is evidence of waste from all different segments in the food chain, the majority of the waste is coming from the home. The majority of that waste can be accounted for through bulk purchases, resulting in buying more feed than they can eat. Looking to restaurant waste, businesses stock more food than they can serve and their portion sizes are often too large for people to finish - all resulting in food waste.

The waste can even sometimes stem right down to the primary producer level, the report suggests that upwards of 7 per cent of planted fields are not harvested each year. Often farmers can`t get a high enough price for their crop to justify the input costs of taking off the harvest.

The Natural Resources Defense Council is an environmental activist group that seeks to address global warming and protect the environment through raising awareness of environmental destruction.

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.