Support for food waste policy

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Northern Outlook

By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter

North Canterbury’s food rescue organisation says it backs a call for a food waste policy to be developed in the region.

Satisfy Food Rescue chairperson Phillipa Hunt says food security has become more important in the wake of natural disasters and the Covid-19 pandemic.

She was responding to comments from Foodbank Aotearoa New Zealand chief executive John Milligan, who addressed last week’s
Environment Canterbury (ECan) meeting calling for a policy to reduce food waste in Canterbury.

‘‘Food security is so important, particularly when you see natural disasters, droughts and pandemics, so we can be more resilient and it is going to become more of issue in the future,’’ she said.

‘‘Here in the Waimakariri, because we responded to the earthquakes, the systems were in place to respond to the Covid situation, which is where Food Secure North Canterbury was able to be set up fairly quickly.

‘‘I would be interested in seeing a food waste policy developed and we would want to be a part of it.’’

Hunt said when it came to reducing food waste, it was about feeding people first, animals second and then composting.

Going to landfill should only be a last resort, she said.

Milligan said globally the world was facing one of its worst food crises in modern history.

New Zealand was not immune, with Covid, supply chain issues, rising inflation, climate change and Cyclone Gabrielle.

But he said there was enough food available to ensure every New Zealander had three nutritious meals a day, provided distribution
and food waste challenges could be overcome.

‘‘One in five kids will have gone to school this morning without breakfast and many will go to bed without tea,’’ he told the ECan
councillors.

‘‘One-third of all of our food is totally wasted and it is something we need to work very hard at combating.’’

He said Canada and several European countries had passed food wastage laws.

The office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Adviser produced a report on food waste last year, but the government had yet to produce a policy or legislation.

Food waste was a climate change issue, being a major producer of methane gas, with wasted loaves of bread being among the worst offenders.

Milligan said Canterbury was feeling the effects of food shortages arising from Cyclone Gabrielle, with food and support being
redistributed to the North Island.

Families who had left damaged homes and come to stay with whānau in Canterbury were also needing support, he said.

The ECan councillors voted to refer the matter to the Canterbury Joint Waste Committee.