Critical Reflection: The next stage for my learning

Taking this module was meaningful for me in my university life.Though I initially feel that it is a waste of my time taking this module, I soon find that it taught quite about academic writing.

The thing I like most about this module is blogging. I feel that it is a great best way to track of our progress.We can also used the feedback given to improve our writing skills and look back on our past mistake in the previous posts.In addition, the writing skills will definitely be applicable in my field of study, real estate. I believed that with better writing skills would enable me to present my ideas better. Being specific or concise comes to my mind first when I tried to recall what I have learnt from Brad. In real estate report, being specific helps to avoid ambiguity in the information or data being conveyed.

 We have been practicing our writing on different drafts for the essay and through these writing and commenting, I found my weakness was lack of good grammar and understanding of sentence structure.

Even though ES1102 module has ended, I believe my learning has not.With continuous positive attitude towards academic writing , I hoped that my writing skills will be more refined in the future.  

Hope the best for you guys' final exams! =) 

Critical Reflection 1: Essay Process

In the initial stage of writing this essay, I had a natural tendency of writing about things related to environment degradation much due to Chandra's influence and thoughts of linking globalization to global warming and deforestation. However, globalization is a very broad and complicated topic linking many spheres of disciplines like arts,sciences and economics together. Hence, much effort is being utilized to find specific local events or phenomenon connected with both environment and globalization. Initially, I had the notion of writing about disposable chopsticks and deforestation as I remember Brad talking about cutting down of tropical trees to supply Japan with chopsticks.    

However, as I continued to brainstorm and research on this topic, I found insufficient data from the local databases and government websites regarding disposable chopsticks. Thus, I tried to be flexible and search for a new idea by widening my scope Thus, I saw an "easy way out" in form of rising food wastage as it was recently being reported by the local media and there are sufficient interest and data by the government agencies like National Environment Agency in this matter.   

From this case, I have learn to be more flexible in choosing topics for writing be it for a report and group project.Rather than harping on a topic that you think you are good at, you could widen your horizon and looked for a new topic to write on that is more manageable.

Essay Final Draft

Globalization has 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. As a result, the food wastage in developed nations has also been escalated. Singapore is no exception to this trend. According to a report by National Environment Agency in 2013, the amount of food waste in Singapore hit a record high last year as 703,200 tonnes was generated which was a 26 per cent spike from the 558,900 tonnes produced in 2007. However, the recycling rate for food waste had 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 a growing priority for physical appearance among consumers. For example, food shoppers will tend to only buy fruits and vegetable that look appealing or prefect. There is even legislation in the European Union which prohibits the sale of out-of-shape 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). The effect of this mindset is especially prominent among local supermarkets which place more emphasis on good quality items that look nice on display so as to attract buyers. Once the food product show the slightest flaws in physical appearance or are considered unmarketable by supermarket staff, they will be disposed by the local supermarkets (Low & Aw, 2009).

In addition, there is also wastage of food arising from inventory mismanagement and lack of properly-trained staff. For example, if an unskilled cook produces a badly prepared dish which cannot be served, the dish will be just being discarded. While proper inventory management could reduce costs for businesses, most food establishments adopt a common practice of having 10 to 20 per cent additional stock (Low & Aw, 2009). Thus, there is often over-stocking of food 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, the economic feasibility of this method is debatable as the expenditure of producing a tonne of compost from food waste is more than that of incinerating the waste (Tan, 2013). However, there are still many alternative methods of recycling such waste. One solution is to make food using recycled food waste. For example, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) produces a snack using recycled soya bean pulp during their research in recycling food waste (Sim, 2013). Though this idea may sound controversial, it can inspire food businesses to convert cost-incurring food wastage into revenue-generating products. Nonetheless, some people will be disgusted at the idea of eating food that is produced from waste. However, Singaporeans will accept such food in the long run just like they accept Newater, drinkable water processed from waste water. 

In addition, the government could mandate that the food businesses to have their staff go through 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 utilisation 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 from the Heart”.

Though the effectiveness of these solutions will be hard to gauge as habits do not change overnight, it will still be prudent for food businesses to try reducing their food wastage as it can help them cut losses and reinforce their image as eco-friendly retailers.The problem of rising food wastage is not just a local issue but also a global phenomenon  Thus, there is also a need to focus more effort  on encouraging the international food industry to adopt the right attitude of recycling or reducing food waste as changing socioeconomic landscape of the world and worsening global environmental condition due to global warming will affect the worldwide future food security adversely. 

References

Chanda, N. (2007). The double edge of globalization. YaleGlobal. Retrieved October 10, 2013 from http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/content/double-edge-globalization 

Low.K & Aw.M.( 2010, March 19). The food waste recycling dilemma.Food Waste Republic Retrieved October 10, 2013 from http://foodwasterepublic.com/category/blog/2010/03/the-food-waste-recycling-dilemma/

Mardell, M.(2008). EU slices up 'ugly fruit' rules.BBC Retrieved October 10, 2013 from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7723808.stm 

National Environment Agency. (2013). Waste Statistics and Recycling Rate for 2012.Retrieved October 10, 2013 from http://app2.nea.gov.sg/energy-waste/waste-management/waste-statistics-and-overall-recycling

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 October 10, 2013 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

Tan, R. (2013, Aug 13).So much food waste, so little recycling in Singapore.The Straits Times. Retrieved October 10, 2013 from http://wildsingaporenews.blogspot.sg/2013/08/so-much-food-waste-so-little-recycling.html#.Ul90oxD670Y