According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, one-third of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted globally.
Food is lost or wasted throughout the supply chain, from initial agricultural production to final household consumption. The increasing wastage also results in land degradation by about 45%, mainly due to deforestation, unsustainable agricultural practices, and excessive groundwater extraction. The energy spent over wasted food results in about 3.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide production every year. Decay also leads to harmful emissions of other gases in the atmosphere. Addressing the loss and wastage of food in all forms is critical to complete the cycle of food efficiency and food sustainability.
Q1. Which of the following statements best reflect the most logical and rational inferences that can be made from the passage?
1. The current methods of food distribution are solely responsible for the loss and wastage of food.
2. Land productivity is adversely affected by the prevailing trend of food loss and wastage.
3. Reduction in the loss and wastage of food results in lesser carbon footprint.
4. Post-harvest technologies to prevent or reduce the loss and wastage of food are not available.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
a) 1, 2 and 3
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1, 3 and 4
d) 1, 2 and 4
Correct answer: b) 2 and 3 only
Q2. Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:
1. The food distribution mechanism needs to be reimagined and made effective to reduce the loss and wastage of food.
2. Ensuring the reduction of wastage and loss of food is a social and moral responsibility of all citizens.
Which of the assumptions given above is/are valid?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Correct answer: a) 1 only
Question from UPSC Prelims 2024 CSAT Paper
Explanation Q1:
Let’s analyze each statement based on the information provided in the passage:
1. “The current methods of food distribution are solely responsible for the loss and wastage of food.”
This statement is not supported by the passage. The passage states that “Food is lost or wasted throughout the supply chain, from initial agricultural production to final household consumption.” This indicates that food waste occurs at multiple stages, not solely due to distribution methods.
2. “Land productivity is adversely affected by the prevailing trend of food loss and wastage.”
This statement is supported by the passage. It mentions that “The increasing wastage also results in land degradation by about 45%, mainly due to deforestation, unsustainable agricultural practices, and excessive groundwater extraction.” This clearly indicates that food wastage is linked to land degradation, which would adversely affect land productivity.
3. “Reduction in the loss and wastage of food results in lesser carbon footprint.”
This statement is supported by the passage. The text states, “The energy spent over wasted food results in about 3.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide production every year.” It logically follows that reducing food waste would lead to a reduction in this carbon dioxide production, thus resulting in a lesser carbon footprint.
4. “Post-harvest technologies to prevent or reduce the loss and wastage of food are not available.”
This statement is not supported by the passage. The passage does not mention anything about the availability or unavailability of post-harvest technologies.
Based on this analysis, only statements 2 and 3 are logically supported by the information provided in the passage.
Therefore, the correct answer is b) 2 and 3 only.
Explanation Q2:
1. The food distribution mechanism needs to be reimagined and made effective to reduce the loss and wastage of food.
2. Ensuring the reduction of wastage and loss of food is a social and moral responsibility of all citizens.
Analyzing these assumptions:
1. This assumption is considered valid based on the passage. The text states that food is lost or wasted “throughout the supply chain, from initial agricultural production to final household consumption.” The distribution mechanism is a crucial part of this supply chain. Given that the passage highlights the significant amount of food waste (one-third of food produced) and its negative impacts (land degradation, carbon dioxide production), it’s a reasonable assumption that the food distribution mechanism needs improvement to address these issues.
2. This assumption, while potentially agreeable from a broader perspective, is not supported by the information given in the passage. The text provides factual information about food waste and its environmental impacts but does not discuss social or moral responsibilities of citizens. There’s no mention of individual roles or responsibilities in addressing this issue.
The correct answer is thus a) 1 only.