Discarding food vs. starving people: Inefficient and immoral?

Ulrich Koester

No 7e, IAMO Policy Briefs from Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO)

Abstract: Intensive discussions about discarding food in recent weeks were prompted by a study commissioned by the German Bundestag and supported by the German Federal Ministry of Nutrition, Agriculture, and Consumer Protection. Spiegel online said on March 13, 2012: Europe's waste would suffice twice to feed the world's hungry. This statement startled many people. Food is discarded in Europe and other prosperous countries while many people in poor countries are starving. Hence, it seems that the global hunger problem could be easily solved. People in rich countries would simply have to deal with food more responsibly. This policy brief critically examines the methodology of identification food loss and the magnitude of estimated quantities and values. Furthermore, it is questioned whether the potential reduction of food loss on one side can really decrease hunger on the other. The paper concludes with a discussion of morals and alternative options for combating hunger.

Date: 2012
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