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, in sustainable 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 missions of other gases in the atmosphere. Addressing the loss and wastage of food in forms is critical to complete the cycle of food deficiency and food sustainability.
Which of the following statements best reflect the most logical and rational inferences that can be made from the passage?
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Statements 2 and 3 are the most logical and rational inferences from the passage.
Statement 2: The passage explicitly states that increasing food wastage results in land degradation by approximately 45%, primarily due to deforestation, unsustainable agricultural practices, and excessive groundwater extraction. This directly implies an adverse effect on land productivity.
Statement 3: The passage mentions that the energy expended on wasted food leads to the production of about 3.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, along with other harmful gases. Therefore, a reduction in food loss and wastage would consequently lead to a decrease in the carbon footprint.
Statement 1: The passage indicates that food loss and wastage occur "throughout the supply chain, from initial agricultural production to final household consumption." This comprehensive scope contradicts the assertion that current methods of food distribution are solely responsible.
Statement 4: The passage emphasizes the criticality of addressing food loss and wastage but does not state or imply that post-harvest technologies to prevent or reduce such losses are unavailable. The absence of a statement about technology availability cannot be inferred as its non-existence.