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Food waste is the world's dumbest problem [video]
- randyrand 8y agoIt's not a problem. It's a feature. If we consumed all the food we produced, we'd be at an incredible risk for famine when tides turn and yields unexpectedly decrease. Skirting the line with famine is not something you want to fuck around with, and its far worth wasting food just to make it less likely. For a good read on how terrible famine is and how important excess food production capacity is, start here: Holomodor, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holodomor https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holodomor
- mac01021 8y agoAre you saying that food demand is so unpredictable from year to year that we need to produce and extra 40% as a buffer to avoid famine? And that all of that buffer produce has to be harvested, processed, distributed, and sold to end consumers?
- tomjakubowski 8y ago> Are you saying that food demand is so unpredictable from year to year that we need to produce and extra 40% as a buffer to avoid famine? I think GP is saying that food supply is so unpredictable (climate, pests, etc.) that suppliers need to target a large excess of production to avoid famine.
- randyrand 8y agoFood demand is predictable, but the causes of famines are generally not. And yes, it's not a bad idea to have the capacity to harvest, process, and distribute all of it. Food during a famine ultimately needs to get in bellies. Not left on a farm.
- devoply 8y agoConsidering that we're wearing out all the top soil as they say yeah good luck with that. It will take between 3000-10,000 years to restore the top soil after it's gone under natural circumstances. https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/soil-erosion-and-degradation https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/soil-erosion-and-degra... https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/only-60-years-of-farming-left-if-soil-degradation-continues/ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/only-60-years-of-... https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/sep/12/third-of-earths-soil-acutely-degraded-due-to-agriculture-study https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/sep/12/third-of...
- milesvp 8y agoI notice you didn’t link to studies regarding bioperterbation. If you look into that topic, you’ll find evidence that topsoil is created far faster than we thought even 40 years ago. I suspect the bigger problem isn’t the rate we deplete topsoil, and more the way we farm doesn’t encourage the biodiversity within the soil to encourage new topsoil formation. Though I admit this may boil down to a po-tay-to, po-tah-to distinction...
- davidjnelson 8y agoDidn’t watch the video but Feeding America is a great charity that collects food about to waste from retailers and gives it to people and families suffering from food insecurity. https://www.feedingamerica.org https://www.feedingamerica.org