“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food,” said Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine in the 5th century BC. This ancient wisdom underscores the profound connection between food and health. Similarly, Brillat-Savarin, in his classic book The Physiology of Taste (1825), emphasised the significance of food in shaping our identity: “Tell me what you eat, and I shall tell you who you are.” Through the ages, the discourse around food has evolved, embracing angles of nutrition, nature, culture, social good, spirituality, desire, and aesthetic appeal. Today, food transcends mere sustenance; it embodies a profoundly moral issue.
Let’s broaden our limited gaze to the bigger picture. Do not lose sight of your full garbage bins; it is not difficult to see a paradox of epic proportions. On one hand, we witness unprecedented wealth and abundance, while on the other, millions teeter on the brink of starvation. In the face of conflicts, climate change, and political strife, approximately 270 million people are perilously close to hunger. Even more alarming is the fact that 30 million among them rely entirely on us for their survival. How has humanity come to this crossroads, where excess coexists with deprivation in such stark contrast?
Consider this juxtaposition: the world boasts a staggering $40 trillion in wealth, yet just $5 billion could save those lives from famine. The United Nations’ definition of a “starved” individual, based solely on caloric intake of a sedentary individual over a year, overlooks the demanding physical labour many impoverished people endure. This narrow definition sacrifices human health for statistical convenience, leaving countless individuals who suffer from severe vitamin and nutrient deficiencies outside the scope of aid efforts.
The cruel irony is that while some starve, others overindulge. Food waste compounds the tragedy of hunger, with approximately one-third of all food produced globally ending up discarded. In affluent nations, where consumption is rampant, overindulgence fuels waste while millions go hungry. In fact, obesity rates are on the rise even in countries blessed with the possibility of a varied and delicious diet, underscoring the disconnection between abundance and need. At the same time, as consumers chase fad diets and quick fixes for weight loss, they squander resources that could alleviate hunger elsewhere. Therefore, excessive consumption not only endangers individual health but also strains healthcare systems and perpetuates a cycle of waste.
But what drives this overconsumption? It’s not merely a matter of personal choice but deeply intertwined with psychological factors and marketing strategies employed by food companies. Food marketing capitalises on our emotional vulnerabilities, promising happiness, belonging, and fulfilment. However, these promises are often empty, designed to exploit our vulnerabilities for profit, thus keeping us hooked to the marketing game, which leverages not only our emotions but also our habits, health necessities, and nostalgic memories. Therefore, by learning to acknowledge the emotional triggers and educating ourselves; by recognising the influence of habits, childhood memories, and nostalgia on our food choices, we can reclaim agency over our decisions and make conscious choices.
Beyond the ethical implications, the environmental toll of food waste is equally alarming, with land, water, and energy resources squandered at an unprecedented scale. Intensive farming practices contribute to deforestation, biodiversity loss, and greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating climate change and threatening ecosystems. Large-scale agricultural production, driven by the demand for meat and excessive demand for some fruits, grains, and vegetables, further accelerates environmental degradation, leading to devastating consequences for both the planet and its inhabitants, displacing indigenous communities.
In this context, the concept of “Happy De-growth“, theorised by the economist Serge Latouche, takes on added significance. It proposes a balanced approach to consumption, advocating for reducing unnecessary commodities while still prioritising essential goods and locally sourced items. It encourages replacing certain commodities with homemade alternatives if it improves quality and reduces pollution, waste, and costs. This philosophy represents a cultural shift away from relentless growth towards a focus on well-being and sustainability. It emphasises technological innovation, cooperation over competition, and reallocating time towards meaningful activities and relationships. In essence, “Happy De-growth” offers a vision for a more sustainable and fulfilling future for both people and the planet.
The challenge is to reconsider our relationship with food, advocating for a shift towards sufficiency, sharing, and collective responsibility: these are tangible solutions to combat waste while fostering community connection and resilience, allowing us to bridge the gap between abundance and hunger, ensuring that no one goes without while resources go to waste.
In alignment with these principles, various organisations such as City Harvest and Olio,https://www.cityharvest.org/ actively work towards reducing food waste and alleviating poverty. City Harvest is a charity that operates in London since a decade rescuing surplus food and distributing it to its branches and hundreds of other charities, while Olio facilitates the sharing of unwanted items within local communities, including unsold food from businesses. Similarly, Too Good To Go https://www.toogoodtogo.com connects customers with surplus unsold food from restaurants and stores, promoting a more sustainable approach to consumption.
Essentially, in a world inundated with choices and complexities, our relationship with food holds profound significance—one that transcends mere sustenance and touches the very core of our being. Moreover, as we navigate the complexities of the present, it’s easy to become ensnared in a cycle of overconsumption and waste. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
We stand at a pivotal moment, where our choices hold the power to shape a more sustainable and equitable future. By embracing concepts like “Happy De-growth” and supporting initiatives that combat food waste, we can redefine our relationship with food and foster a culture of compassion and resilience.
So let’s reimagine our approach to food—not as a mere commodity but as a catalyst for change. Let’s reclaim the narrative of food, restoring its dignity and reverence in our lives, finally forging a path towards a world where waste is minimised and abundance is shared.
Ig – @fairness_mag
