The environmental organization "Enda" warned on Tuesday of the environmental and economic repercussions of food waste. It emphasized that discarding food is not merely an economic loss; it also places strain on water, soil, and natural resources while contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.
In a statement marking the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, the organization noted that environmental protection begins at home, explaining that wasting food also entails wasting the water, energy, land, and resources used in its production.
It added that agriculture and livestock farming account for approximately 70 percent of global water consumption. The organization pointed out that wasting one kilogram of beef is equivalent—by its estimates—to wasting about 50,000 liters of water, while discarding a single cup of milk equates to wasting around 1,000 liters of fresh water.
The organization also highlighted that, in some European countries, quantities of caught fish are discarded due to commercial standards, noting that this represents one aspect of the waste problem within food supply chains.
Regarding climate change, it explained that decomposing food scraps in landfills produce methane—a gas with a greater capacity than carbon dioxide to trap heat in the atmosphere—stressing that food waste is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. According to the statement, the world wastes more than 1.05 billion tonnes of food annually—representing approximately 19 percent of the total food available to consumers—while food waste contributes an estimated 8 to 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
The organization warned of the impact of food waste on land and biodiversity, explaining that the expansion of agriculture and livestock farming to meet rising food demand—particularly for meat—is linked to deforestation and the conversion of land into pasture. This threatens animal and plant habitats and disrupts ecological balance.
Regarding the situation in Iraq, the organization noted that the average Iraqi wastes about 101 kilograms of food at home annually—citing data from the UN Environment Programme—and estimated the country's total annual food waste at over 4.5 million tonnes.
In the Kurdistan Region, the organization stated that organic waste—including food scraps and vegetable waste—accounts for 50 to 60 percent of daily urban waste. It attributed this to excessive food purchasing and lavish hospitality practices, as well as slow waste sorting and recycling processes.
The organization called for curbing this phenomenon by purchasing food based on actual needs, avoiding wastefulness, sorting organic waste for use in producing organic fertilizer, and donating surplus food and meals to the needy, especially during special occasions.
An environmental organization warns of the impact of food waste on water and natural resources.
