According to a UK-based report, as much as half of the world's food, around two billion tonnes worth, is being wasted.
The Institution of Mechanical Engineers said the waste was being caused by poor storage, strict sell-by dates, bulk offers and consumer fussiness. The study also found that up to 30% of vegetables in the UK were not harvested because of their physical appearance.
Dr Fox, head of energy and environment at the institution said, "The amount of food wasted and lost around the world is staggering. This is food that could be used to feed the world's growing population - as well as those in hunger today. It is also an unecessary waste of the land, water and energy resources that were used in the production, processing and distribution of this food".
He continued, "The reasons for this situation range from poor engineering and agricultural practices, inadequate transport and storage infrastructure through to supermarkets demanding cosmetically perfect foodstuffs and encouraging consumers to overbuy through buy-one-get-one-free offers. If you're in the developing world, then the losses are in the early part of the food supply chain, so between the field and the marketplace. In the mature, developed economies the waste is really down to poor marketing practices and consumer behaviour".
The report - "Global Food; Waste Not, Want Not" - also found that huge amounts of water, totalling 550 billion cubic metres, were being used to grow crops that were never eaten.
