MIDLAND, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), more than 1.3 billion tons of food and $750 billion are lost annually, but by working across every level of the supply chain, The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) is providing food security and food packaging answers to help address these global problems. Participating in the FAO’s World Food Day efforts on October 16, Dow is promoting awareness of world hunger and solutions to food waste through interactive content about food waste and how to create sustainable food systems on its website and social media channels.
“One third of the world’s food is wasted before it arrives on the kitchen table,” said Andrew Liveris, Dow Chairman and CEO. “By taking a holistic approach to feeding the world’s population in agriculture, harvesting, manufacturing and packaging, we are creating solutions for the entire supply chain. Dow people are working at the intersections of the sciences to create innovations that will support the growth in food production and conservation that are needed to feed the world’s expanding population.”
A Fruitful Journey
Food’s journey begins on the farm where it is critical to protect the food supply at the origin of the supply chain. Innovations in agricultural chemical, biotechnology and germplasm safeguard crops from disease, pests and weeds while increasing yields and reducing the impact on the environment. Dow is working with farmers to create drip-irrigation systems that deliver precise amounts of water directly to crop roots facilitating growth while greatly reducing water waste. And through a range of innovative post-harvest protection products and services, Dow is enabling growers, packers, shippers, exporters, and importers to deliver high-quality fresh fruit and vegetables to consumers.
Following its harvest, food goes through a processing phase which allows manufacturers to accommodate the changing tastes and needs of the marketplace. For example, Dow’s food processing solutions allow the removal of allergens such as gluten giving consumers the opportunity to enjoy increased options that accommodate their dietary restrictions. In dairy processing, Dow offers products that help producers create products that allow for easier handling, greater productivity, superior sanitation, and processing energy savings.
Food spoilage is a major contributor to the food waste problem, and keeping packaged foods fresh on the inside while protecting it from outside invaders and delaying spoilage is one of the most obvious consumer benefits in the food chain. Dow’s resins for flexible stand-up pouches use less material to package items such as soups, baby food and baking ingredients, locking in nutrients to form a barrier against ripening agents or molds that cause food decay. These lightweight packages also mean that more food can fit into each truckload, and vehicles use less fuel to distribute the food, in turn reducing carbon footprints - a win-win for everyone in the supply chain.
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About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world's most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow's diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2012, Dow had annual sales of approximately $57 billion and employed approximately 54,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 188 sites in 36 countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.
