The 7th Annual Food Waste and Rescue Report of LEKET examines in depth, with the help of globally accepted measurement tools, the governmental steps in OECD countries to implement policy tools to reduce food waste.
While the government ministries formulated various plans to reduce poverty and minimize the social gaps, it appears that when it comes to food waste and rescue, this issue is not a priority, states Leket.
However, a lot of good solutions made in Israel are on the tabel as reported on VonNaftali. It is not necessary and home-made.
21,3 Billion NIS Loss
According to the Report’s estimates, the extent of food loss in Israel in 2021 is 2.6 million tons (52 billion lbs.) valued at NIS 21.3 billion (US $6.1b), which consists of 37% of food production in Israel. Of this, 50% of the food is salvageable and is fit for human consumption, translating to over 1 million tons (2 billion lbs.) at a value of NIS 7.5 billion (US $2.14b).
A comparison with countries worldwide reveals that the food waste crisis is not unique to the Israeli economy. However, among the 18 countries measured in the policy index supporting food rescue and food waste reduction, Israel has implemented the fewest policy tools to eradicate this phenomenon, ranking it last of the 18 countries measured.
Gidi Kroch, CEO – Leket Israel: “Israel’s position in last place in the implementation of policy tools to reduce food waste is not surprising but is cause for real concern. For the last six years, Leket Israel has published a comprehensive Food Waste and Rescue Report, signed by Israel’s Ministry of Environmental Protection, and supported by data from the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, issuing warnings about the volumes of food that are thrown away each year.“
Packaging Waste
The report of Leket Israel further states that 2 million tons of food and packaging waste were discarded in the past year. The environmental damage caused by this waste was estimated at NIS 3.6 billion.
This waste is also waste which pollutes the sea, as recently reported on VonNaftali. About 2 million tons of microplastic can be find on Israel’s offshore and beaches.
We have to fix it. We have all the means and ressources necessary.
VonNaftali/מנפּתלי/ByNaftali 