Food Recovery to Avoid Methane Emissions (FRAME)

Source- This post on Food Recovery to Avoid Methane Emissions (FRAME) has been created based on the article “Food banks can prevent GHG emissions equivalent to taking 900 cars off road for a year: Data” published in “Down to Earth” on 6th September 2024.

Why in News?

As per recent estimates from a new methodology called Food Recovery to Avoid Methane Emissions (FRAME), each food bank reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions equivalent to taking 900 gasoline-powered cars off the road for a year.

About Food Recovery to Avoid Methane Emissions (FRAME)

1. The Food Recovery to Avoid Methane Emissions (FRAME) methodology is a tool designed to quantify and mitigate the environmental impact of food loss and waste (FLW) through food recovery and redistribution.

2. It was developed by the Global Food Banking Network (GFN) in collaboration with the Global Methane Hub and the Carbon Trust.

3. This methodology was piloted in Mexico and Ecuador, where six food banks were assessed.

4. It provides a measurable way to calculate the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that can be avoided by redirecting food destined for landfills to human consumption.

5. It helps organizations involved in food recovery such as food banks demonstrate their environmental benefits, specifically in reducing methane emissions.

6. It allows them to track emissions reductions, optimize food distribution efforts, and demonstrate the positive impacts of preventing food waste, which otherwise contributes heavily to global warming.

7. The methodology aligns with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), most notably SDG 13 (Climate Action) by fitting climate change impacts, SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by reducing food waste, and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) by redirecting edible surplus to those in need.

8. Implications of FRAME: In 2019, the global network of food banks helped prevent over 12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent from being emitted, while also saving 75 million tonnes of surplus food and serving 66 million people.

UPSC Syllabus: Environment