Saudi Arabia, the largest country in the Middle East, is battling a serious food waste problem. The country has one of the highest rates of food waste production globally with per capita food waste generation being almost the double of the global average [1]. Despite being a country highly dependent on food imports, food waste is steadily rising each year.
Food waste can be defined as anything intended for human consumption, but is lost or wasted, either at the beginning of production referred to as food loss or discarded at a later stage when it’s completely edible. In Saudi Arabia, food waste is greater than food loss i.e. food is discarded at a later stage rather than being discarded at the production stage. Since food is shipped across large distances, it can be disregarded due to aesthetic reasons, such as a change in color or shape.
Factors Behind Food Waste Crisis
A host of factors exacerbate and influence the food waste problem in Saudi Arabia. Since, the country has a stable and growing economy, and is rapidly undergoing urbanization, the government usually subsidizes food prices in order to facilitate its citizens and residents. Regular offers and promotions on food and grocery items has lead to impulsive buying and excessive consumerism. The stable and prosperous economy also impacts the buying power of people and drives people to consume and purchase more than they need which ultimately leads to more food waste.
Another contributing factor is the cultural norm of hospitality and hosting. Arabs take great pride in hosting their guests and preparing large feasts for them, especially during special events and celebrations. Ramadan is one of those events where both the amount of hosting, and consequently food waste surge. In addition, dining out is a common practice and people tend to waste more food at restaurants.
Ethical Implications
Wasting food is wrong on multiple levels, it goes against religious, ethical and moral values and is undoubtedly a form of indifference and negligence. Apart from that, it is a disregard and wastage of precious resources. From the land on which crops are grown, to the water supplied to the crops, the fuel required for transportation, and the land that is deforested for agricultural use. All of these resources are utilized in food production, and when food is wasted, these resources go in vain.
A relevant example is rice, which is not a native crop in Saudi Arabia; therefore, it is imported. Rice is grown in waterlogged soil which indicates that a significant amount of water is used in the cultivation of rice. Sadly, since rice is a staple carbohydrate in Saudi Arabia, it is wasted in large amounts, this is not only a waste of the rice itself, but also a waste of water, the fuel that was consumed during its transportation and the fertilizers used in its production.
Impact on the Environment
Not only does wasting food deplete resources, it also harms the environment negatively. Most of the garbage produced in the Kingdom, comprises of food waste. This garbage is then dumped into landfills, and consequently, anaerobic bacteria break down the food waste in the absence of oxygen and produce methane gas which is a greenhouse gas linked to ozone depletion and global warming. 20% of the global greenhouse gas emissions are a result of methane gas [2]. Some countries combust food which contributes to CO2 emissions.
Food waste treatment requires a lot of capital and therefore is not a very sustainable or economical option [3]. Moreover, the lands allocated for food production may experience deforestation because a lot of free space is required for agriculture to meet increasing demands, which then leads to a loss in biodiversity. Due to growing demands a lot of land is also converted to pasture for cattle, and due to overgrazing it becomes uninhabitable, also contributing to loss in biodiversity and reduction in fertile land [2].
Another problem linked with food waste is the potential rise in food insecurity over time, since a number of resources are required to support food production. Saudi Arabia does not have much agricultural or fertile land and thus a large amount of groundwater is used in agriculture. Unfortunately, water resources are also scarce in the kingdom. If food is continually wasted, more and more capital will be required to support food production and this may cause a rise in imports, prices of food and thus food insecurity. Food insecurity can be defined as the lack of access to adequate and nutritious food.
Sustainable Ways to Manage Food Waste
There are many ways in which food waste could be managed sustainably, for example, compost made from food waste is economical, free from external chemicals and toxins and good for agriculture. Composting occurs in aerobic (presence of oxygen) conditions. Composting can be done on an individual level in kitchen gardens and backyards and also on a larger scale. Food residuals, like fruit and vegetable peels, can be buried into the soil, and converted to a humus rich material by fungi, bacteria and other microorganisms. Compost acts as a natural fertilizer and enhances the natural properties of soil, contributing to better soil health [4].
Another efficient way of food waste management is its biological degradation (also known as anaerobic digestion or biomethanation) into methane-rich biogas which is a renewable energy resource and would reduce reliance on fossil fuels. To produce biogas, organic food waste must be placed in anaerobic tank. Microorganisms break down food waste into biogas which comprises of methane and carbon dioxide. The gas is then burned to generate electricity or produce heat or used as a transportation fuel [4]. Anaerobic digestion be used for large scale food systems such as large-scale food processing facilities or large-scale farms [4].
Something as small as date pits which comes under unavoidable food waste can also be repurposed. Dates are a common part of diet in Saudi Arabia and recently it was discovered that date pits can be utilized in water purification by removing contaminants such as heavy metals, dyes, and pesticides from water. Activated carbon is an adsorbent commonly used in wastewater treatment and Date pits have the potential to be converted to activated carbon. A large fraction of date pits is carbohydrates. They can be converted to powder and then activated physically or chemically [5]. Activated carbon absorbs and effectively binds to pollutants in water.
Raising Public Awareness
Awareness has to be raised at multiple levels: consumer, producer, and harvester level. Food production should be aligned with market demand, and excess could be rerouted to other markets, or given to food donation organizations. Introduction of posters condemning food waste in cafeterias and canteens is a possible option to raise awareness amongst consumers. Food waste occurring at a household stage is definitely preventable and a number of measures can be taken such as planning meals, making lists, storing and consuming perishable items appropriately.
Saudi Arabia being a Muslim country should definitely raise awareness amongst its people from an Islamic point of view, since Islam strongly condemns extravagance and wasting resources. This matter could be mentioned in Friday sermons to raise awareness amongst public. A verse from the Quran clearly mentions it:
‘O children of Adam…eat and drink but be not excessive. Indeed, he likes not those who commit excess.’ [7:31 Quran]
Bottom Line
Food waste is a serious environmental and socio-economic issue in Saudi Arabia which is problematic on multiple levels; it has environmental, ethical and religious implications. Despite being a huge issue, it could be minimized and handled more effectively through a few simple alternatives and greater awareness amongst the masses. From using food waste in composting or producing biogas, a better alternative to fossil fuels, food waste could be turned into something effective and useful rather than being discarded in landfills.
On an individual level, better planning could make a significant difference, while on a larger scale greater efforts from producers, harvesters and government could mitigate the issue. Reducing food waste will lead to conservation of valuable resources and the protection of the environment.
References
1) M. Amin Mir, Sook Keng Chang, & Duaa Hefni. (2024). A comprehensive review on challenges and choices of food waste in Saudi Arabia: exploring environmental and economic impacts. Environmental Systems Research, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40068-024-00364-5
2) https://earth.org/how-does-food-waste-affect-the-environment/
3) https://www.sciencedirect.com/org/science/article/pii/S2753809524000140
4) https://reencle.co/blogs/news/composting-vs-biogas-food-waste-comparison
5) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/chapter/edited-volume/pii/B9780128200421000079
