Brown targets food waste

Brits must do more to stop wasting food, Gordon Brown says

Monday, 07, Jul 2008 10:50

Gordon Brown has called on Britons to cut back on the amount of food they waste each week.

The prime minister's comments come as a government report suggests the average household in Britain wastes around £8 a week.

The Cabinet Office report claims each household could save £420 a year by not throwing away edible food. Approximately 4.1 million tonnes of food which could be eaten are disposed of each year, the government estimates.

Positive steps at home must be matched with a range of steps abroad, the prime minister believes.

Speaking to reporters at the G8 summit in Hokkaido, Japan, Mr Brown called on developing countries to introduce measures to increase production.

"I am proposing that we take action to both increase the global supply of food and reduce unnecessary demand," he said.

"We will be discussing at the G8 how we can help Africa realise its great potential as a food producer and we would like to see production of key food stuffs in Africa double over the next five to ten years."

The government is seeking increased aid and investment in African agricultural production from G8 leaders, as well as the establishment of an "early warning system for food supply".

Its long-awaited review of biofuels, due out today, will conclude "more needs to be done to understand the link between the fuel and its effects on food supply", Downing Street said.

Friends of the Earth food campaigner Vicki Hird said: "Gordon Brown is right to draw attention to the need to waste less food, but he must also use his sway at the G8 to urge a rethink on global agriculture and food production.

"Current policies on biofuels and trade lie behind the global food crisis. By feeding cars instead of people we are driving deforestation and pushing up food prices."