Food-waste and overconsumption are killing the rainforest

For 1 ½ years, I have been living in Brazil. Deforestation is a daily encounter in the news, personal observations, and conversations with friends.

Not only regarding the Amazon but also other biotopes like the Pantanal area or the mata atlantica (with only around 5-8% of its original size left).

Being faced with this sad reality, I am trying to do my part to at least not contribute to this problem.

Here are 5 ways how you can help:

1. Don't throw away food.

2. Don't overconsume.

3. Reduce your meat consumption.

4. Buy regional.

5. Inspire others to do the same.

I talked a lot about this with friends and people working in farming: We don't have a problem with overpopulation. We have a problem with the irresponsible use of resources.

Here are just some numbers from a google search;

40% of All food gets thrown away in the US

14% of all food gets thrown away in Germany.

14% at first sounds reasonable.

But in real numbers, it translates to 12 million tons p.a.

Internationally: 1,300,000,000 tons per year (1,3 billion)

If we throw less away, we have to produce less, need less farm area, and don't need to burn down rainforests. The problem is not only the farmers who burn the forest. It's also us who give them a reason to do so.

You don't have to become a vegan.

You don't have to start living in a forest hut.

You don't have to start eating only raw soy or grass.

But use resources responsibly and be aware of your responsibility.

I'm no saint here and no specialist. It's a complex topic with many facets to it. Thinking and talking about it is just my way of trying to encounter my own guilt and feeling of despair, hoping that each person who gets touched by it feels inspired to do their part.

Would you add something?

---

Hier geht es zum LinkedIn Beitrag.

Folge dem Link und nimm an der Diskussion teil.