What makes us human: how to put technology at the service of solidarity. By Belén Alcobendas (director of the Mundo 21 Foundation)
By Belén Alcobendas, director of the Mundo 21 Foundation
Increasingly, we hear voices warning us about the dehumanizing effect of technology. They tell us that, in this world we live in, new communication tools isolate us, depress us, make us more selfish and individualistic, and prevent us from empathizing with the pain and suffering of others. In short, they make us less human.
But what is it that really makes us human?
The answer can be as complex as we like. However, being aware of our own existence, developing in society, having ethical values, and the ability to create technological tools to improve our lives are part of our essence as humans.
Thus, technology is one of the fundamental elements that makes us human, as is the ability to use it according to our ethical code.
Technology in a world with limited resourcesIn a world where, according to the United Nations, more than 700 million people suffer from hunger and a third of the food produced is wasted, using technology to achieve a more equitable distribution of food becomes a pressing need.
The planet's resources are limited, not only food, but also the water and energy needed to produce it. In the current climate of climate change, redistributing food surpluses must be a priority for society as a whole.
This redistribution relies on technology as one of the key tools for its success. Among these tools are food traceability systems, which allow products to be tracked throughout the entire supply chain.
Traceability, also essential for ensuring food safety and optimizing logistics, provides a dual benefit to surplus management: reducing losses and channeling food to people in vulnerable situations.
Effective cooperation: it is not enough to want to helpCooperation is at the heart of human nature. However, in the 21st century, we have not yet managed to guarantee food for all, not even in developed countries like ours.
In Spain, six million people suffer from food insecurity, in a country with no shortage of resources. A recent study by MAPA indicates that the percentage of food waste in large-scale distribution stands at 0.65% of the total sold, with an average economic loss of €0.73 for each ton produced or purchased.
In this critical situation, it is essential to equip ourselves with the tools to ensure that food aid to vulnerable people is delivered in the most effective way. It's not enough to simply want to help; we must know how to do it best.
Proper information management is essential for charitable efforts to reach their intended targets, taking into account priorities, how many people are in need, where they are located, and what they truly need. And new technologies, with advanced systems like blockchain, can provide us with all this data.
Technology to work on what's importantThe use of technology to completely digitize the product donation process, from the moment it leaves the restaurant, supermarket, or food company to the organization that receives it. This allows third-sector organizations to move closer to their mission by freeing themselves from tasks that, when performed manually, multiply their hours and limit their scope of action.
Technology defines us as humans and makes us human. It's time to use it to achieve a more just world.
Main photo: EFE Archive/Santi Carneri
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