Today is World Environment Day; a day that the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has dedicated to positive environmental action. UNEP has recognized June 5th as the World Environment Day every year since 1972.
This year’s theme is Think. Eat. Save. It focuses on conserving food and reducing waste. The UNEP is focusing on waste in the traditional sense of the term, such as throwing away a half a plate of food or letting food items rot or expire before they are consumed. But what about waste when it comes to crop production and land use? How many farmers aren’t getting the most from their crops as possible, thereby resulting in waste?
We’ve written many posts about how important agriculture is to countries all around the world. By simply using fertilizers, farmers can increase crop yield to feed more people.
The world is facing a growing population which will decrease the usable land for crop production while trying to satisfy the increased demand for food. Farmers will have to find ways to be productive with the land they do have.
Opportunities for Food Waste
This issue goes beyond fertilizers. Sometimes food byproducts can be turned into another valuable material. Corn cobs can be used to make cat litter and oil dry pellets. Corn flours can be used to make animal feed. There are solutions for safely storing food. There are many possibilities with new uses found every day to make the most of the materials that we already have. The FEECO lab has helped many companies determine the feasibility of their material and processes and we can even build the equipment that you need.
Think. Eat. Save.
Let’s use the technology we have to transform waste products into life sustaining nutrients and other useable products. Let’s make the most of the land we have for crop production. Let’s not waste the food that has been provided by farmers and food producers. Let’s live this year’s World Environment Day theme and think, eat and save.