One third of the food produced in the world rots in the field, in transport or is simply thrown away. This is obviously not only a massive waste of food, it’s also a big contributor to global warming because as it decomposes in landfills it releases methane. In fact according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, if food waste were its own country, it would be the third largest emitter of greenhouses gases after the U.S. and China.

One country is doing something about food waste. Since 2016, large grocery stores in France have been banned from throwing away unsold food that could be given away.

NewsHour Weekend Special Correspondent Christopher Livesay reports from Paris as part of our “Future of Food” series, which is supported in partnership with the Pulitzer Center.

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