This anecdote is some 50 years back. Things have improved since then. Hybrid seeds got developed to endure weather variations and to yield more crop. However we get to hear that the hybrid seeds are wiping out native seeds. There is foundation established just to preserve native seeds from all over the world. The question to us is how we can have these hybrid seeds continually evolve to become less toxic and more organic. Are there any research in this direction? What kind of learning needs to be imparted at primary and secondary school levels to create an awareness in young minds? We have been focusing on literacy, numeracy, digital literacy, etc. Should we bring in a new literacy to create these kinds of lifestyle related awareness? What should we call it?
Mr Nagaraj commented:
“I agree with your concerns on sustainability and more importantly food wastage. I am also interested in recycling. I feel sad when I see people just throwing things which can be recycled. I have started since last 3 years recycling the plastic wrappers, thin plastic coverings, chips packets . Collecting these and put it in the collection bins at Woolworths and Coles. I also try to recycle vegetables scraps thus trying to reduce garbage to the landfills. In fact in Canberra some volunteers collect vege scraps and other composting material, where we can drop it into their composting bins. It’s our duty to do all these things for a cleaner environment and world.”
My response
Your comments become a good starting point to cover the wastage theme for February. There was a three part documentary on waste in Australia, called ‘war on waste’. It covered the consumer side of the waste on how it gets produced and what can be done to prevent or reduce or recycle it. There are more waste categories that I can add to the consumer waste. There is farm waste, manufacturing waste, distribution waste and warehouse waste. Mr Nagaraj covered the consumer side of the waste. I will try to address the other waste to best of my knowledge and through questions posed to this group.