Jamila Omowunmi Mohammed Audu

A Zero-Waste Future: How Sustainable Agriculture Can Lead the Charge! As the world population continues to grow, so does the amount of waste we produce. The waste sector has a significant impact on the environment, contributing to climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. The theme for this year’s International Day of Zero Waste is the celebration of achieving sustainable and environmentally sound practices of minimizing and managing waste. With only 55 percent of municipal solid waste managed in controlled facilities, it's crucial to adopt a zero-waste approach to prevent waste, promote sustainable consumption and production patterns, protect the environment, and enhance food security while improving human health and well-being. Agriculture is an essential sector that sustains human life and provides food for the world's population. However, agriculture activities generate significant amounts of waste, including animal manure, food scraps, and packaging materials. This waste can have negative environmental and health impacts if not managed correctly. It can pollute water bodies, emit greenhouse gases, and create breeding grounds for pests and diseases. At the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, IITA, sustainable sound practices for minimizing and managing waste are being applied to reduce waste and promote sustainability in agriculture and for the globe as a whole, through composting, recycling, reducing food waste, and sustainable packaging, conserving resources to promote a healthier planet. In an exclusive interview with Wole Gregory, lead of the Youth Sustainable Waste Ecosystem Program(YSWEP) at IITA, he gives emphasis on how sustainable development goals can be applied to achieve zero waste, “there is a need for restructuring in our mindsets when it comes to promoting zero-waste, the change does not need to start from the government, the change needs to start with us as individuals, addressing all forms of waste, including food loss, natural resource extraction, and electronic waste. Achieving zero waste is a crucial step and we must all work together to minimize waste and its impact on the environment. By adopting a zero-waste approach, we can create a more sustainable future for ourselves and generations to come”. Let us be aware that the adoption of zero-waste practices is essential for a sustainable future. By minimizing waste, we can protect our environment, promote food security, and improve the health and well-being of communities worldwide. As individuals, we can make a difference by adopting sustainable consumption habits, reusing and repairing products, and properly disposing of waste. As the Government, industries such as IITA, and other stakeholders are working together to create policies and systems that support a circular economy and reduce waste, let us all play our part to support zero-waste initiatives. Together, we can achieve a zero-waste world.