Eliminating Food Waste − New Advances in Technology

Summary

In response to global food waste, Japan has pioneered innovative solutions to preserve food more sustainably. A unique freezing technology helps quickly preserve fruits while retaining their flavor and nutrition for up to six months. Additionally, a method for transforming discarded vegetables into paper-thin, edible sheets provides a long-term storage option, ideal for emergency food supplies. These advancements support the UN’s goal to cut global food loss and waste by half, contributing to food security and sustainability as the world faces growing food scarcity challenges.

Takeaways

• 😀 The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals include a target to cut global food loss and waste by half by 2030.
• 🌍 Globally, 1.3 billion tons of food are wasted every year, contributing to environmental and food security issues.
• 🍇 In Japan, innovators are using advanced technology to tackle food waste by preserving food for longer periods.
• ❄️ A new freezing technology developed in Japan can freeze fruit at much lower temperatures, preserving it for up to six months while retaining its flavor and nutrition.
• ⚡ This freezing method is ten times faster than traditional freezing, reducing spoilage and waste of perishable foods.
• 🥕 Soda Cascade, another Japanese innovation, processes discarded vegetables into thin, edible sheets, enabling long-term storage and reducing waste.
• 📦 These vegetable sheets can be stored for up to two years, making them ideal for emergency food supplies or areas with limited access to fresh produce.
• 🍅 The vegetable sheets retain the original flavor and nutritional value of the vegetables, despite their transformation into thin, paper-like sheets.
• 🛠️ This technology allows for the storage of vegetables without refrigeration, which is a significant breakthrough in food preservation.
• 🌱 These innovations are crucial in addressing the upcoming global food crisis, as the world population is expected to exceed 9 billion by 2050.
• 🌎 The goal of these technologies is not only to reduce food waste but also to create sustainable solutions that can help feed the growing global population.

Q & A

What global initiative does the United Nations support to reduce food waste?

The United Nations announced sustainable development goals, one of which aims to cut global food loss and waste by half.

How much food is wasted globally every year?

Currently, the world wastes 1.3 billion tons of food each year.

What technological solution is being developed in Japan to address food waste?

In Japan, technology is being used to freeze food more efficiently, allowing it to be preserved and used instead of being discarded.

How does the new freezing technology in Japan differ from traditional methods?

The new freezing technology operates at lower temperatures and is much faster than traditional methods, taking only one-tenth of the time required by normal freezers.

What are the advantages of the new freezing method?

The freezing method preserves food for up to six months without losing flavor or nutritional value, which helps reduce food waste.

How does Soda Cascade address the issue of food waste?

Soda Cascade transforms discarded vegetables into a different form, such as vegetable sheets, allowing them to be stored for long periods, reducing food waste.

What is the process used to create the vegetable sheets?

The process involves chopping, boiling, and mashing vegetables like daikon into a paste, then drying and processing the paste into thin, paper-like sheets.

What are the benefits of the vegetable sheets created by Soda Cascade?

The vegetable sheets are lightweight, retain the flavor and nutrients of the original vegetables, and can be stored for up to two years, making them ideal for emergency food supplies.

How do the vegetable sheets differ from traditional methods of preserving vegetables?

Unlike traditional methods that require refrigeration or have a short shelf life, the vegetable sheets can be stored for much longer periods, up to two years, without spoiling.

Why are these food preservation methods important for the future?

These methods help tackle the expected food crisis as the global population is set to exceed 9 billion by 2050, offering sustainable ways to preserve food and reduce waste.