At a conference in Luxembourg organised by the Agriculture Ministry, science journalist Ranga Yogeshwar urged greater cultural change and practical measures such as reintroducing cookery classes in schools to tackle food waste.

Every year, more than a third of the world's food production is wasted. In Luxembourg too, European statistics show that over 120kg of food are thrown away per person annually. This waste not only means that food is produced for nothing, it also squanders water and pumps unnecessary CO2 into the atmosphere. Globally, 3.3 gigatonnes of greenhouse gases are emitted in vain through food waste, almost five times more than aviation emissions.

As part of the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, science journalist and author Ranga Yogeshwar visited Luxembourg to give an interactive talk. The former Westdeutscher Rundfunk Köln (WDR) presenter placed the issue of waste in a broader context, pointing out that consumers bear the main responsibility.

He explained that around half of food waste occurs at home, which equates to about 15% of everything people buy going straight into the bin. He urged the public to consider this in financial terms, since it means throwing away 15% of the money spent on food without gaining anything in return.

Luxembourg is roughly in line with the European average. Yogeshwar stressed that waste is largely a phenomenon of wealthy societies, since in poorer countries people simply cannot afford to throw food away. He added that the problem is not only linked to abundance, but also to the fact that in developed countries many people buy processed meals and ready-made dishes, losing the connection to how food is produced.

Cooking for oneself, he argued, helps to build a relationship with food and makes people less likely to discard it. Technology can play a part in reducing waste, but culture is even more important, Yogeshwar said. He encouraged the audience to value imperfection, pointing out that an apple that looks wrinkled may still taste excellent, and that recognising beauty in what is not flawless is a cultural shift away from today's highly polished, Instagram-driven world.

In his conference, Yogeshwar also made a clear demand: cookery classes should once again be introduced in schools so that young people learn to cook, understand food better, and treat it with greater respect.

Reflecting on recent natural disasters such as the 2021 floods in Germany's Ahr valley, he said humanity is reaching its limits. Yet he remains optimistic, particularly when he sees signs of change among younger generations. Initiatives like the 'Yellow Ribbon', where fruit trees in orchards are marked for public picking, give him confidence that attitudes are shifting.

The EU has recently introduced a directive aiming to cut waste in production by 10% by 2030, with even higher targets of 30% for retail, catering and households.

The conference with Ranga Yogeshwar was organised by the Ministry of Agriculture. Minister Martine Hansen explained that the government takes the problem seriously and is putting measures in place.

Watch the full report in Luxembourgish

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