Students create innovative solutions to combat food waste

Food waste is more than just a trending food topic. As students find ways to combat this food issue, everyone is reminded to do better.

The food waste is more than just a simple phrase or popular food trend. While people might grasp the impact of this epidemic, more change is needed.

Recently, local Miami based students showed that a little ingenuity can have far reaching effects. General Mills, through its Feeding Better Futures initiative, rewards these forward thinkers and encourages everyone to do more.

How often do you throw away an uneaten bag of salad? Do those broccoli stems or potato peels find their way to the bottom of the garbage bin? Shouldn’t there be a better solution than just throwing everything into the trash?

Many people today are concerned with the environment, smart choices and proper eating habits. While people are ditching the plastic and focusing on sustainability, these two topics aren’t the only issues that need to changed. Food waste is a huge, and growing, problem.

In many ways, today’s youth is primed to find innovative and creative solutions for many of today’s issues. These forward thinkers are making an impact not only on today but the future.

General Mills understands that its position as a global leader allows them to be a voice for change. From efforts in hunger relief to environmentally and socially responsible practices, the company is always forward thinking.

Jeff Harmening, chairman and CEO, General Mills, said “We’re inspired by how driven today’s youth is champion a happier, healthier world.”

Through the General Mills program, Feeding Better Futures, two Miami siblings won the annual Feeding Better Futures Scholars Program. Their organization, back2earth, helps to combat food waste in the Miami community.

To date, back2earth has collected “more than 15,000 pounds of food waste and produced more than 4,000 pounds of compost to nourish hyperlocal gardens by installing food waste drop-off stations around the Miami community.”

Thinking about this program, the concept could be adapted all over the country. The simple, yet innovative, idea can be done on various scales. It is amazing that two siblings can find such a profound solution to a huge food issue.

Building on this idea, other communities could adapt the back2earth methodology. Why couldn’t a local nursery, school or even neighborhood create their own compost site? Again, any food that can be re-purposed instead of finding its way to a landfill is a step in the right direction.

Do you know someone who is making a positive contribution to make the world a happier, healthier place? Share their story with FoodSided.