Urban Elika, towards a better use of food resources in EU urban environments: focusing on decision making processes

L. Escajedo San-Epifanio; M. De Renobales; P. Dapena Montes; I. Glz-Baskaran

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Urban Elika, towards a better use of food resources in EU urban environments: focusing on decision making processes

In: Know your food

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L. Escajedo San-Epifanio

L. Escajedo San-Epifanio
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M. De Renobales

M. De Renobales
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P. Dapena Montes

P. Dapena Montes
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I. Glz-Baskaran

I. Glz-Baskaran
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Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 426–430

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-813-1_64

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Food insecurity and hunger are growing problems present also in the wealthy developed world. Financial crisis, market instability and increasing food prices contribute to aggravate the problem. According to Caritas-Europe, 79 million people are food insecure in the EU. That happens while the current food wastage in EU27 is 179 kg per capita (89 million ton per annum). Reducing food waste through donations or redistribution of surplus food to people in need or food banks is a frequent option. In fact, a kind of food security net has rapidly emerged in the EU, collecting surplus food and distributing it to target population. Urban Elika, a collaborative and participatory forum funded by the ‘University of the Basque country’, aims to contribute to a better use of food resources in EU urban environments. Among other research areas, the group analyzes the ethical dimensions involved in the range of recovery practices that are currently collecting food surpluses and offer them to food insecure people. It is crucial to realize that many ethical issues over the short, medium and long-term arise from this kind of redistribution of surplus food. In this paper we describe some of these issues. In the short term, successful emergency relief has to be rooted in thoughtful decision making despite the compelling urge to give help under the pressure of extreme circumstances. There are legal and safety concerns to be addressed and there is a lot to learn from those NGOs and charities that provide hunger relief and at the same time develop programs to promote human rights while respecting and dignifying each individual. In the medium and long term, the focus has to be on the ways to promote nutritional inclusion. Hunger is a political issue. Hunger is a failure of our current food system, probably one of its main failures, and both food waste and food poverty need the full attention of the public and governments. It is not only a question of managing surplus food. Unless our efforts tend to reorganize the primary food system, the food insecure people will continue to be excluded.

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Know your food

Food ethics and innovation

E-Book ISBN:: 9789086868131

Publisher:: Wageningen Academic

Print Publication Date:: 18 May 2015

Subjects
- Life Sciences

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Urban Elika, towards a better use of food resources in EU urban environments: focusing on decision making processes

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Know your food

Food ethics and innovation

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