China Tackles Food Sustainability Crisis with Anti-Waste Law
China, a nation renowned for its culinary diversity, faces a significant challenge in food sustainability. The Chinese saying 'To people, food is heaven' underscores the importance of food in the culture, yet excessive consumption and waste pose substantial issues. The government has taken steps to address this, including the enactment of the Anti-Food Waste Law in 2021.
The primary challenge lies in the production stage of the supply chain, with post-harvest food losses ranging between 289 and 368 million tons annually. Per capita meat consumption has surged from under 10 kg in the 1970s to approximately 70 kg per person by 2022, exacerbating environmental concerns. A significant portion of the total food waste, 931 million tons annually, occurs in people's homes, accounting for 61 percent.
In response, the Chinese government has implemented measures to reduce food loss rates during production, storage, transportation, and processing by 2027. The Anti-Food Waste Law targets restaurants and media platforms encouraging excessive ordering or promoting binge-eating. Eating broadcasts, a popular video trend, have been fined for promoting food waste. The law has also fined banquet hosts for ordering excessive dishes to display social status, a common practice that leads to leftovers.
Addressing food waste in China is a complex task, involving cultural shifts and legislative enforcement. The government's comprehensive action plan and the Anti-Food Waste Law are steps in the right direction. Public awareness campaigns, such as the 'Empty the Plate Campaign' started by environmentalist Xu Zhijun in 2012, have also played a role in encouraging mindful consumption. As the nation continues to grapple with this issue, the future of China's food sustainability hangs in the balance.
Read also:
- Federal petition from CEI seeking federal intervention against state climate disclosure laws, alleging these laws negatively impact interstate commerce and surpass constitutional boundaries.
- Hydrogen Energy: Sustainable Innovation or Resource Exploitation?
- Dim outlook for a major energy corporation
- Underwater pipeline shutdown initiative by Michigan challenges scope of American foreign policy, contends Trump Justice Department
