Chinanews client, Beijing, October 16th (Reporter Zhang Ni) Statistics show that 8.9% of the world's population is hungry.

The United Nations previously warned that this year, affected by the new crown pneumonia epidemic, the world is approaching the worst food crisis in 50 years.

　　October 16th is World Food Day, a special year, how can we hold our jobs, and how can we achieve strict economy?

Data map: Winter wheat.

Photo by Zong Ying

The amount of global food waste is staggering, and 690 million people are still hungry

　　How many people are still starving in this world?

The answer is 690 million!

　　According to United Nations statistics, nearly 690 million people (8.9% of the world’s total population) are currently hungry. It is estimated that by 2030, more than 890 million people, or 9.8% of the global population, will be affected by hunger.

　　But in contrast, the amount of global food waste every year is staggering.

　　According to the State of Food and Agriculture in the World 2019 issued by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in October 2019, about 14% of the world's food has suffered a series of losses from after harvest to before retail.

　　The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations reported that about US$400 billion worth of food in the world each year has been wasted before it enters the shops. The reasons include wrong harvesting and handling of food, disease and climate.

In addition, developed countries waste more food at the consumption level. Among them, Southeast Asia, North America and Europe have serious food waste.

　　In addition, according to statistics, the global annual carbon footprint of food waste is equivalent to 3.3 billion tons of carbon dioxide.

If you compare it to a country, it will become the third largest emitter after the United States and China, more than twice the carbon dioxide emissions from road transportation in the United States in 2010, and more than three times that of Europe.

　　In China, previous data have estimated that China’s annual losses and waste caused by grain storage, transportation and processing alone are as high as 70 billion jin.

　　The consumption link of the dining table is even more important. In 2015, the research team of the Chongqing Investigation Team of the National Bureau of Statistics wrote "China's Food Supply and Demand and Trends Forecast during the 13th Five-Year Plan Period". About 100 billion catties can support the needs of about 350 million people a year.

Data map: locusts are eating corn leaves. Photo by China News Agency reporter Kang Ping

The world is approaching the worst food crisis in 50 years

　　Unlike the past, as the new crown pneumonia epidemic continues to spread, multiple links such as global food production, logistics, and consumption have been severely impacted.

　　Will the epidemic trigger a food crisis?

This has become a topic of global concern.

　　In April this year, the "Global Food Crisis Report" jointly issued by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and other international organizations showed that as of the end of 2019, more than 135 million people in 55 countries and regions around the world are suffering from severe food insecurity, of which more than half are located in Africa.

　　According to analysis, the epidemic has already affected the global food system and exacerbated existing food problems.

　　At the production level, the epidemic affected the input of agricultural labor and related production factors, resulting in production obstruction; at the logistics level, the restricted flow of personnel and materials caused by the epidemic affected food logistics; at the consumption level, the epidemic caused a slowdown in economic growth, reduced income, unemployment, and local Limited food supply in the market has affected people's timely access to food.

　　The "Global Food Crisis Report" warned that the global population facing a severe food crisis may increase to 265 million in 2020.

　　Sun Zhilu, an associate researcher at the Institute of Agricultural Economics and Development of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, has previously analyzed that the "human element" is the top priority in agricultural production, processing, and circulation, so the epidemic has particularly severe impact on agriculture.

Once the agricultural supply chain is broken, it is difficult to recover.

　　Earlier, the United Nations warned that due to the economic recession caused by the new crown pneumonia epidemic, the world was approaching the worst food crisis in 50 years.

Data map: Farmers threshing wheat.

Photo by Zong Ying

China has had a bumper harvest year after year, but we still need to be prepared for danger!

　　On September 23 this year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China announced that China's autumn grain harvest in 2020 is a foregone conclusion. The annual grain output is expected to increase at a high level. China's grain output will be stabilized at more than 1300 billion jin for six consecutive years.

　　The White Paper "China's Food Security" issued by the State Council Information Office in October 2019 shows that in recent years, China has more than needed rice and wheat production and is fully self-sufficient. Imports and exports are mainly based on varieties.

From 2001 to 2018, rice and wheat varieties together accounted for less than 6% of the total food imported annually.

　　In a special year, China’s good grain harvest means that the Chinese, who account for one-fifth of the world’s population, will have no problem eating.

　　However, since the grain has been harvested year after year and the supply is sufficient, why do we still have to establish crisis awareness?

　　In fact, behind the bumper harvest and self-sufficiency, China's grain consumption is still growing faster than the increase in output.

　　The head of the State Bureau of Grain and Material Reserves previously stated in an interview with the media that in the medium and long term, China's grain production and demand will still maintain a tight balance.

The string of ensuring national food security cannot be relaxed for a moment.

　　Looking at the outside world, since the end of last year, locust plagues have occurred one after another in many parts of the world, causing disasters to East Africa, the Middle East, and India.

In addition, some severe natural disasters have increased the uncertainty of the global agricultural product supply and caused fluctuations in the food market.

　　Some experts also analyzed that the epidemic has had a full impact on global food production and demand, and the locust plague in some countries affected food production, which may worsen global food market expectations, creating a panic stacking effect of panic buying, selling restrictions and poor logistics in various countries, leading to International food prices have soared.

　　Therefore, it is very necessary to be prepared for danger in times of peace and not forgetting danger.

Data map: The waiter is weighing and placing half a dish.

Photo by Zhou Yi

The Chinese hold their jobs firmly and start from the "CD"

　　An analysis article previously published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has emphasized that in the strategy of reducing food waste, compared with measures such as recycling and landfill, reducing losses is the most environmentally friendly measure.

　　The article believes that the impact of food products on natural resources is huge, and improving the food value chain and reducing food waste is the long-term and best way to protect resources.

　　In China, the "CD Action" has been launched across the country since 2013.

　　In 2014, the two offices issued the "Opinions on Strict Economy and Opposing Food Waste", which clearly stated that it is necessary to eliminate waste of meals during official activities and promote thrifty meals in unit canteens.

In addition, various documents have been issued at the local level.

　　This year, "CD Action" has become a hot word on the Internet.

　　In August, the China Chamber of Commerce, China Chain Store & Franchise Association, and China Culinary Association launched the "Proposal on Stopping Food Waste and Cultivating Saving Habits" to the national catering industry.

Since then, the China Hotel Association issued a proposal to encourage buffet companies to adopt reward and punishment measures, remind customers to take meals on demand, small amounts, and multiple times, and enhance customers' initiative to save consumption.

　　Earlier, catering and culinary associations in many provinces also issued initiatives to call on the entire industry to take action. The content of the initiative generally included catering companies not to mislead consumers to over-order meals, provide half meals, and appropriately reward "CDs".

　　Exposing illegal eating and drinking, implementing N-1 ordering, and restaurants offering half-served dishes... The trend of "opposing waste and strict economy" has spread across the country.

　　In some cities, the results have been very significant.

　　For example, in Chongqing, after the COVID-19 outbreak this year, food and beverage consumption continued to recover. In September, the average daily collection and transportation of food waste in the central urban area of ​​the main city decreased by 2.15% year-on-year to approximately 38 tons.

In addition, the amount of food waste in colleges and government canteens in many places has also been significantly reduced.

　　Who knows dishes on the menu, A Journey.

　　In this special year, every Chinese must start by saving food for every meal.

(Finish)