In honor of World Food Day on Oct. 16, 2012, the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) is highlighting the role of food science in environmental sustainability—a key component to solving the world’s hunger problem.
Over the past several decades, the food processing techniques developed by food scientists ensure that the resources required to produce raw food materials and ingredients for food manufacturing are used efficiently. While the modern food is system is capable of feeding nearly 7 billion people, there are still nearly one billion people that go hungry every day.
According to IFT’s scientific review Feeding the World Today and Tomorrow: The Importance of Food Science and Technology, “approximately 30–40% of raw food materials and ingredients are lost between the points of production and consumption. The magnitude of these losses is felt far greater in developing countries than industrialized countries.”
This is why food scientists today are working harder than ever to develop new ways to further maximize the efficiency of food processing and its impact on the environment. In order to further communicate this concept, IFT is proud to unveil a new video discussing how food science and technology provide sustainable solutions throughout the food system.
“Food preservation and processing are what have helped us feed billions, but we have to come up with even newer technologies to feed the billions of people by 2050,” said IFT President John Ruff. “As food scientists we are committed to further improving sustainability within the product lifecycle—from sustainable ingredient sourcing, to product development, to waste management.”
The World Without Food Science is a public education campaign created by IFT to generate awareness of the role that food science plays in ensuring a nutritious, safe, and abundant food supply. This awareness initiative is designed to help the public understand where their food comes from so they can make informed decisions about the food they eat every day. As part of this effort, IFT provides practical consumer tips at www.iftfoodfacts.org. For more information on the impact of food science on world hunger, visit IFT’s World Food Day web page.
