Essay Drat #1

Globalization brought about excessive consumption via increasing transactions of goods and services globally (Chanda, 2007). With rising affluence, the global demand for food has increased in developed countries. Singapore is no exception to this trend. According to a report by National Environment Agency (NEA), the amount of food waste in Singapore hit a record high last year as 703,200 tonnes was generated which saw a 26 per cent spike from the 558,900 tonnes produced in 2007. However, the recycling rate for food waste has dropped from 16% in 2010 to 12% in 2012. Thus, more efforts must be taken to reverse this adverse trend of increasing food waste.

Unfortunately, there is growing mindset of “cosmetics perfectionism” among consumers. For example, food shoppers will tend to only buy fruits and vegetable that look nice or prefect. There is even legislation in the European Union which prohibits the sale of misshapen produce. Though the European Union lifted the ban on some 26 types of fruits in 2009, it still remains on ten types of fruits and vegetables (Mardell, 2008). This mindset is more rampant among supermarkets which place more emphasis on good quality items that look nice on display. Once fresh produce show the slightest defects or are deemed unsellable by supermarket staff, they will be discarded (Low & Aw, 2009).

Moreover, there is also wastage of food arising from inventory mismanagement and lack of properly-trained staff. For example, if an unskilled cook produced a badly prepared dish which cannot be used, the dish will be just being discarded. While proper inventory management could reduce costs for businesses, most food establishments adopt a standard practice of having 10 to 20 per cent buffer stock (Low & Aw, 2009). Thus, there is often over-buying of food stock among food retailers when there is low demand from the consumers.

Though the food waste from the supermarkets and food retailers can be reused as compost, their economic viability is questionable as the cost making a tonne of compost from food waste costs more than just incinerating it (Tan, 2013). However, there are still many alternative methods of recycling such waste. One solution is to make food from the waste. For example, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) came up with a snack by recycling soya bean pulp, or Okara in Japanese (Sim, 2013). Though this idea may sound controversial, it can inspire food businesses to convert cost-incurring food wastage into revenue-generating avenues. Nonetheless, some people will be disgusted at the idea of eating food that is produced from waste. However, people will accept such food in the long run just like they accept Newater, drinkable water processed from waste paper. 

In addition, the government can mandate that the food businesses need to send their staff go for proper skill-training in food-preparing and inventory management. Though this may increase the cost of operation for the firms in the short term, it can save costs for them in the long term via better utilization of food stock. Alternatively, food businesses with excess supply of food stock due to under-whelming demand can donate their food product to charities like “Food FromThe Heart”.

Though the effectiveness of this solution will be hard to gauge as people's habits do not change overnight, it will still be prudent for food businesses to embrace this policy as it can help them cut losses and reinforce their image as eco-friendly retailers.Moreover, Singapore, being a land-scare city island, does not the capacity to produce large amount of food to meet its own needs. Thus, more significant effort must be focused on adopting the right attitude of recycling or reducing food waste as changing socioeconomic landscape of the world and worsening environmental condition due to global warming will affect the future food supply adversely. 

References 

Chanda, N. (2007). The Double Edge of Globalization. YaleGlobal. Retrieved from http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/content/double-edge-globalization 

National Environment Agency. (2013). Waste Statistics and Recycling Rate for 2012.Retrieved from http://app2.nea.gov.sg/energy-waste/waste-management/waste-statistics-and-overall-recycling

Tan, R. (2013, Aug 13). So much food waste, so little recycling in Singapore.The Straits Times. Retrieved from http://wildsingaporenews.blogspot.sg/2013/08/so-much-food-waste-so-little-recycling.html#.UlVq3BD670Y

Mardell, M. (2008). EU slices up 'ugly fruit' rules. Retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7723808.stm 

 Low.K & Aw.M.( 2010, March 19). The Food Waste Recycling Dilemma. Retrieved from: http://foodwasterepublic.com/category/blog/2010/03/the-food-waste-recycling-dilemma/

Sim. W. (2013, July 11). Recycling solution to food waste in Singapore, Minister Khaw cites 'Okara floss' as an example of a practical solution to issue. The Straits Times. Retrieved from http://articles.stclassifieds.sg/entertainment-food-and-beverage/recycling-solution-to-food-waste-in-singapore-minister-khaw-cites-okara-floss-as-an-example-of-a-practical-solution-to-issue/a/127872