13. Food waste

From VOA Learning English, welcome to Agriculture in Special English. How much¹ of the world's food is going to waste³? The Institution of Mechanical Engineers⁴ released a report⁵ that says as much as half⁶ of all food is wasted⁷.

The Britain-based group says that must change⁸ if the world is to feed⁹ its growing¹⁰ population. Every year the world produces about 4 billion tons¹¹ of food. The report says that between¹² one third¹³ and one half¹⁴ of it goes to waste.

 It says that in Southeast Asian¹⁵ countries, between 37 and 80 percent of all rice production¹⁶ is lost¹⁷. Colin Brown helped write the report for the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. He says a lot of rice is lost because of¹⁸ the way¹⁹ it is harvested²⁰, stored²¹ and transported.

The developed world²² also wastes food²³. The report says more efficient farming methods²⁴ ensure²⁵ that more food reaches²⁶ markets. Still²⁷, Colin Brown says millions of tons of food are thrown away²⁸ because it is past its sell-by date²⁹ or for other reasons³⁰.

He says a lot of food is thrown away because it no longer looks good³¹, and not because it is no longer good to eat³². A spokesman³³ for a group that represents supermarkets in Britain³⁴ says the big food stores³⁵ are not to blame³⁶.

He says they are only following³⁷ European Union marketing rules³⁸. The stores have been pushing³⁹ for an easing⁴⁰ of those rules⁴¹. He says that in 2009, stores succeeded⁴² in getting a number of rules⁴³ relaxed. Many aid⁴⁴ organizations welcomed⁴⁵ the report.

They say it shows how much food is being wasted at a time when millions of people do not get enough to eat⁴⁶. The group Save the Children⁴⁷ says there is enough food in the world to feed every child. Yet⁴⁸, 2.3 million children die⁴⁹ every year as a result of hunger⁵⁰. For VOA Learning English, I'm Laurel Bowman.(Adapted from a radio program broadcast 05Feb2013)

Vocabulary

01. How much = quanto
02. world's food = comida do mundo
03. is going to waste = está indo para o lixo
04. Mechanical Engineers = Engenheiros mecanicos
05. released a report = lançaram um relatório
06. as much as half = aproximadamente metade
07. wasted = desperdiçado(a)
08. must change = deve mudra
09. feed = alimentar
10. growing = em crescimento
11. tons = toneladas
12. between = entre (duas coisas)
13. one third = um terço
14. one half = uma metade
15. Southeast Asian = sudeste asiático
16. rice production = produção de arroz
17. lost = perdido(a)
18. because of = por causa de
19. way = forma
20. harvested = colhido(a)
21. stored = armazenado(a)
22. developed world = mundo desenvolvido
23. wastes food = desperdiça comida
24. farming methods = métodos agrícolas
25. ensure = assegurar
26. reaches = alcance, chegue a
27. Still = ainda assim
28. thrown away = jogado fora
29. it is past its sell-by date = passou da validade
30. other reasons = outras razões
31. no longer looks good = não mais parece boa
32. it is no longer good to eat = não é mais boa para comer
33. spokesman = porta-voz
34. Britain = Grã Bretanha
35. food stores = lojas de comida
36. are not to blame = não são culpadas
37. only following = apenas seguindo
38. marketing rules = regras de mercado
39. have been pushing = tem sido pressionadas
40. easing = relaxamento
41. rules = regras
42. succeeded = tiveram sucesso
43. a number of rules = uma série de regras
44. aid = ajuda, auxílio
45. welcomed = receber bem ,dar as boas vindas
46. do not get enough to eat = não conseguem o suficiente para comer
47. Save the Children = Salve as crianças
48. Yet = Porém
49. Die = morrem
50. As a result of hunger = como resultado da fome