Agriculture: One Romanian throws away a meal per day; 6,000 tons of food wasted daily

On the average, a Romanian throws away a meal per day, which means 6,000 tons of food wasted daily throughout the country, according to a press release of the Short Food Chain Association (ALAS).   According to the mentioned source, 20% of all food produced is thrown away and households are the biggest sources of food waste, followed by HoReCa and retail. “Waste begins when we buy too much and continues when we cook too mcuh food and ends when we throw away after considerable effort. By means of the its initiative, the Short Food Chain Association wants to break that circle, by building an informal network of people who do not waste anything- from vegetables and leaves, to ideas and time,” the press release shows.   The association also presents the reasons why it is important to reduce food waste. The first one is that when facing higher taxes, people can learn how to spend less and wiser. Also, instead of generating garbage, they could produce compost for urban gardens and green balconies. It is not quantity but the quality of food which should come first for the Romanians who come to market.   “The real household means respect – for work, food and resources left behind. In times when everything seems more expensive, this project reminds us that we can do more with less, if we work together. Obor market is a symbolical place for household consumers, but it is also a place where many top chefs buy their raw materials. Together with other colleagues we want to convey this message: economy starts with our responsibility when buying. A Romanian who is attentive to resources is a good householder. Romanians should learn how to be thrifty not wasteful,”said Marius Tudosiei, the founder of ALAS.   The project is financed by the Environment for Bucharest Platform, through the program “In Your Area”, and is carried out in partnership with entities like Compost Academy, Obor Balcony, Obor Community Gardens, Eco Ruralis Association, Climatosfera and several education units in Bucharest.   “What are we doing exactly? We instal a community compost maker near Obor Market, because vegetal wastes should nourish the ground, not garbage dumps. We involve children, seniors, traders and neighbours in workshops, guided tours, ecological education sessions. We carry out an awakening campaign with clear, simple messages: Waste nothing at Fairs, Everything should be eaten, Compost is the new black,” said Cristina Chinole, project manager at ALAS.   The association wants to show that imperfect vegetables are also tasty, nourishing and they offer daily energy, so they should not be thrown away. “Now it is important to pay attention to resources and we should try to thwart possible price rises. Not all prices are rising, but the impact of new taxes will be generally felt in Romania. Attention paid to resources could mean a better household, more detailed plans which should help us spend less. We should also concentrate on how we should avoid waste. Food waste starts in the purchase stage – we are tempted to buy more than we need. It goes on when we cook, because we do not use all products and it ends when we throw away the food already cooked, because we cook too much for how many people there are. A real household means respect for everything we have: from our own garden to the wastes which could become compost. At the Local Gastronomy Point La Motoare we cook what nature is offering us and we waste nothing- we turn bones intosoup and peelings into food for the earth. That is not only sustainability, it is being wise. We can all learn how to do that, at the restaurant or at home,” said Razvan Lavric, from Slow Food.   The project will be carried out at Obor Market and in the Birdsmen Park, with workshops, picnics, compost sessions and infomration campaigns. According to the Food Chain Association, there is less waste in the rural than urban areas, partly because villagers have been more disadvantaged economically and most of their resources have been used as food for animals.   “Householders to the Market is a projects of the Food Chain Association, financed by “In your area”, an action of the Environment Platform for Bucharest, initiated by Bucharest Community Foundation and ING Bank Romania.