British food activist wins Norwegian environmental prize

In his 2009 book, "Waste: Uncovering the Global Food Scandal," the British activist, born in 1977, denounces that massive quantities of food are thrown away while one billion of people worldwide suffer from malnutrition.

According to Stuart, a third of all the food that is thrown away in the United States and Europe would suffice to feed all the hungry in the world.

"Tristram Stuart is awarded the Sophie Prize of 2011 for his innovative, energetic, humorous and thoughtful contributions to raising consciousness about one of today's the most palpable environmental and moral scandals: food waste," the foundation said.

It quoted a new study saying each Norwegian throws away a kilo of food each week, which amounts to some 300,000 tonnes of food wasted annually in Norway.

Stuart turned his word into actions in December 2009 by organising "Feeding the 5000" on Trafalgar Square in London, where some 5,000 people were fed a meal made with ingredients that would have gone to waste.

Set up in 1997 by Norwegian writer Jostein Gaarder, the author of the bestselling novel "Sophie's World", and his wife, the award recognises work for the protection of the environment with the winner receiving a 100,000 dollar (70,000 euro) cheque.

(c) 2011 AFP