RISK MANAGEMENT
How pest control can contribute to
sustainability in the food sector After more than a year of economic and social upheaval caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, the world is at a crossroads.
A
ddressing the One Planet summit in Paris in January 2021, UN Secretary-General António
Guterres said, “In the year 2021, we must reconcile humanity with nature. Until now we have been destroying our planet. … We have been poisoning air, land and water and filling oceans with plastics. Now nature is fighting back.” This focus is seen as a chance to put new energy into the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which was
reaches the consumer (food loss) – valued
food businesses can contribute to
adopted by all member states in 2015
at around $400 billion per year. On top
sustainability, including reducing food
and is centred on the 17 Sustainable
of that staggering amount is food waste,
loss and waste, lessening their impact
Development Goals (SDGs). There are
caused by the inefficient handling and
on the environment and lowering carbon
now just ten years left to achieve
use of food. Together, food loss and food
emissions in all areas of their operations.
these goals and the UN has called for
waste generate 8% of global greenhouse
a decade of action, including a drive
gas emissions, which amounts to 1.5
and-trusted technique to help prevent
for sustainable innovation, financial
gigatonnes of CO2 equivalent every year.
food losses caused by pests at all stages
investments and technology. The pandemic has forced people to
And that was in a “normal” year.
Integrated pest management is a tried-
of the supply chain - in an environmentally
Food supply chains have been disrupted
sustainable way. When combined with
adapt to new ways of working and living,
by restriction of movement and
environmental policies that extend to all
and it has made more people realise that
Coronavirus quarantine measures,
products used, operations and services,
we cannot go on treating the planet the
causing increased losses, especially of
pest control can contribute to every food
same way. The UN Secretary-General
perishable food products.
business’s sustainability commitments.
added, “As we rebuild, we cannot revert
Buying habits have also changed by
to the old normal. Pandemic recovery is
both consumers and countries, so as to
our chance to change course. … Every
build stockpiles of non-perishable food,
country, city and business must adopt an
which causes more waste of other food.
HOW PEST CONTROL CONTRIBUTES TO CUSTOMERS’ SUSTAINABILITY
ambitious roadmap to achieve net zero
Measures that many countries have been
Pest control is one of the key factors
emissions by 2050.”
taking to reduce food loss and waste have
in preventing food losses throughout
been put at risk.
the food supply chain. As mentioned
FOOD SYSTEMS: AN ESSENTIAL PART OF SUSTAINABILITY
the first International Day of Awareness
contribution to CO2 emissions and are
Sustainable food systems are an essential
of Food Loss and Food Waste, organised
a major target in the UN’s sustainable
part of many of the SDGs because they
by the Food and Agriculture Organization
development goals.
impact numerous areas, including
(FAO) and the UN Environment
nutrition and health, poverty reduction,
Programme (UNEP). The aim is to urge
that can contribute to sustainability, both
water security, sustainable energy, CO2
everyone to do more to reduce food loss
in the focus across the whole business –
emissions and climate change.
and waste to protect food security and
such as reducing energy use in buildings
the environment.
and transport, minimising waste,
Every year, about 14% of the world’s food is lost to pests and spoilage before it
22
June 2021 | FOOD RE VIEW
In September 2020 the UN launched
There are multiple ways that
previously, food losses are a significant
There are multiple areas in pest control
using sustainable products – and in the
