Feargal Quinn (Independent)

We should pay more attention to the food policy being espoused by Sweden, which assumed the Presidency of the European Union last week. That country pointed out that the global population is likely to double by 2050 and that there will therefore be a shortage of food. However, some of the steps being taken by Sweden should concerns us as consumers and from an agricultural perspective. As individuals and nations, we must strive to avoid the huge quantities of waste being created on an individual basis and by retailers and others. Figures for Britain show that last year 484 million tubs of yoghurt were thrown away unused, whether because they had passed their sell-by date or for some other reason. The manufacturers of prepacked sandwiches are obliged to cut off and discard two slices from either end of every loaf of bread they use because consumers do not want the crusts. This resulted in 2.6 billion slices of bread being thrown away last year in Britain. Last year, 27 apples per head of population were thrown away because they were discoloured or otherwise tarnished. The figures for this State are undoubtedly proportionate. We can take action both as individual citizens and as legislators to ensure the quantity of waste created is significantly reduced, if not eliminated. This issue should be a priority for debate.