💚 Tackling the Global Food Crisis 🍅
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Happy Monday 👋
Did you know that households waste over 1 billion meals worth of edible food every day? This is the equivalent of 1.3 meals every day for everyone in the world affected by hunger.
Food loss and waste undermine the sustainability of our food systems, which is particularly important as the human population is expected to rise to 9.8 billion by 2050…
So, today, I would like to share an event with you that raises awareness of the global food crisis and inspires action to combat food waste!
Here are the impactful insights that I have for you today:
- Raising awareness of the global food crisis 🍅
- Unlocking the secret to sustainable rice production 🍚
- Inspiring indigenous women to protect the Amazon forests 🌳
- Discussion of the week: small transport shifts 💬
- And more… 💚
🍅 Event of the Week: International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste
👉 Did you know that today (September 29) is International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste? This annual event highlights how much food is wasted around the world and promotes efforts to conserve food and cut down on waste.
1️⃣ The big picture: On 19 December 2019, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 74/209 proclaiming the establishment of International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (IDAFLW). The aim of the event was to promote awareness and collective action to reduce food loss and waste. Today, the event is run by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the UN Environment Programme. It’s marked every year by campaigns and educational events.
2️⃣ Why is this important: Around the world, 13.2% of food produced is lost between harvest and retail, while 19% of total global food production is wasted in households, in the food service, and in retail. This is despite an estimated 733 million people going hungry every day, equating to one in 11 people. Furthermore, food loss and waste generate 8-10% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, contributing to climate change. With the global human population expected to grow to 9.8 billion by 2050, it’s essential for us to create and maintain a food secure world.
3️⃣ How can you get involved: You can get involved in International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste by joining the online virtual event that’s held every year. You can also get involved by spreading awareness of food loss and inspiring action to counteract it through your social media platforms, using hashtags such as #FLWDay, #FoodWaste, and #FoodLoss. You can even consider setting up an event in your area to educate your local community on this global issue or volunteer for a local food bank.
Below are our favorite charities that are especially relevant for this awareness event:
- 9 Best Charities That Fight Hunger Globally
- 9 Best Charities That Fight Child Hunger
- 9 Best Charities to Reduce Food Waste
- 10 Best Charities Impacting Global Poverty
If you are looking for additional inspiration, you can find a wide range of charitable causes to support in our charity support blog.
📢 Three Good News
🍚 The tiny mineral that may hold the secret to feeding billions sustainably:
- Scientists from the University of Massachusetts Amherst have found that by adding nanoscale selenium directly to rice plants, they can dramatically improve nitrogen efficiency, boost yields, and make grains more nutritious while reducing fertilizer use and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
- Currently, the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of rice can be as low as 30%. This means that 70% of what a farmer puts on their fields washes away into streams, lakes and the oceans.
- In a paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the research team have also demonstrated for the first time that such nanoscale applications work in real-world conditions.
🌳 Indigenous women in Peru use technology to protect Amazon forests:
- Assisted by the Organization of the Indigenous Peoples of the Eastern Amazon, Kichwa, Ticuna and Matsés women are leading forest patrols and training other women in the use of technology such as GPS, drones and satellite alerts.
- They are protecting the forest not only as an ecosystem, but also as a vital source of life, food, medicine and cultural heritage for their communities.
- Since the founding of the initiative, women have stepped into leadership roles in what was once considered an exclusively male field. Today, more than 30 women have forged new paths through the Amazon Rainforest.
🦪 The environmental benefits of oyster farming exceed expectations:
- A research team has found that one ton of farmed Pacific oysters in Northern Ireland soaks up 2.36 kilograms of phosphorus-equivalent nutrients from the water, creating a powerful case for expanding shellfish cultivation.
- European shellfish production has dropped by nearly 20% over the past decade due to regulatory challenges, competition from imported seafood, and limited investment in coastal farming infrastructure.
- Oyster farms could remove 40 tons of nitrogen and 4 tons of phosphorus from coastal waters each year. This equates to cleaning up wastewater from over 10,000 people annually.
💬 Discussion of the Week: Small Transport Shifts
Welcome to our new section, where we spark meaningful discussions about everyday topics that can create a real positive impact in our lives!
This week’s discussion topic: What’s a small transport shift that made your life better?
- Walk, bike, transit, car-share—what’s realistic where you live?
- How do you handle weather, safety, or time constraints?
- What community improvements would help more people switch?
Your commute story might unlock healthier streets for all!
For our founding community members, keep the conversation going in our forum here.
Want to join our community when we reopen? Just reply to this email—I’d love to personally add you to our waitlist so you’ll be the first to know all about it 💚
🤝 Three More Important Awareness Events
☕ September 29, National Coffee Day:
- National Coffee Day is celebrated every year to recognize the positive, energy-promoting impact of coffee in our lives and honor the people who make it.
- In addition, this event inspires people to learn more about coffee by highlighting its health benefits, economic importance, and cultural heritage.
♥️ September 29, World Heart Day:
- World Heart Day was created to raise awareness about the global burden of cardiovascular diseases, which are the leading cause of death worldwide.
- The day serves as a reminder of the importance of heart health and encourages individuals, families, and communities to adopt healthier lifestyles, focusing on diet, exercise, and regular check-ups.
💛 September 29-October 5, National Hereditary Cancer Week:
- National Hereditary Cancer Week raises awareness for the hereditary risks associated with cancer.
- Early detection is essential to cancer treatment and so knowledge of your risk groups as a result of your family history is a very important asset.
Related: You can discover all the 119 most important awareness events (for the month, days, weeks) in our awareness calendar for September 2025!
📜 These Days in History
👮 September 29, 1829: England’s first professional police force, London’s Metropolitan Police (often called Scotland Yard), was founded. It became a model for future police departments in various other countries, including the US.
⚾ September 30, 1927: American baseball player Babe Ruth became the first player to hit 60 home runs in a single season.
✍️ August 26, 1936: American novelist and playwright Truman Capote (1924-1984) was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He’s best known for his novels Breakfast at Tiffany’s and In Cold Blood.
💭 Quote of the Day
“Love is a chain of love as nature is a chain of life.”
― Truman Capote; American writer
Share the news with your friends to make a bigger positive impact on the world and society together!
Stay impactful 💚
