In a report released May 14, three leading international organizations call on governments to reduce by half, by 2025, the amount of food that is wasted after it is grown.

The Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) released the report Saving Water: From Field to Fork – Curbing Losses and Wastage in the Food Chain.

The report recognizes that the tremendous quantities of food wasted in processing, transport, supermarkets and people’s kitchens also waste tremendous quantities of water. For example, in the US, almost a third of post-harvest food is discarded, a value of about $50 billion. The report likens this to “leaving the tap running and pouring 40 trillion litres of water into the garbage can…” This wasted water is equivalent to what would be consumed by 500 million people.

The report calls on governments to reduce food wastage so that savings in one part of the world could benefit other parts of the world. A significant concern is the limit on food production imposed by water shortages. Thus saving water through reducing food wastage will offer a win-win at both ends of the food production process.

For more information, please contact Josh Paglia, Communication Officer, Stockholm International Water Institute, josh.paglia@siwi.org

Links
Complete report (720KB PDF)
Press release

The American Museum of Natural History’s exhibit dedicated to water is due to close May 26. Read more…

We reported on it back in April, but want to remind you of Nature magazine’s special water series. The offering comprises a set of pieces with the title “Water: Under Pressure.”

Note that some material is accessible only to subscribers.

Link
Nature special on water

Washington DC — The Water Science and Technology Board of the National Academy of Sciences is holding its annual meeting in the nation’s capital April 23 and 24. Read more…

How will you celebrate?

2009 is the Year of Science, a national year-long celebration of science to engage the public in science and improve public understanding about how science works, why it matters, and who scientists are.
Read more…

Where: Edinburgh, Scotland
When: 28-30 May
What: International Workshop on Water And Sanitation in International Development And Disaster Relief

Check out the workshop website for a program of invited speakers and posters as well as all other information.

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Researchers in China have found that production of natural gas and other hydrocarbons from coal is enhanced in the presence of water. Read more…

Submit Your Abstract Online

Safe Drinking Water, a UNC-Chapel Hill Environmental Symposium sponsored by the university’s Institute for the Environment and its Drinking Water Research Center, will be focused on professional development Read more…

Popular Mechanics and the National Science Foundation present

BRIDGES TO THE FUTURE CONFERENCE

A webcast discussion exploring the best ideas for improving American infrastructure and building a better, safer future. Read more…

Just in case you missed it, check out a series of articles and features on the Nature magazine website. The series highlights what has been called “the world’s forgotten crisis.”

The series includes: Read more…