Journal ArticleDOI
On the Measurement of Food Waste
TLDR
In this paper, a simple framework to systematically think about food waste based on the life cycle of a typical food item is developed, which allows documenting the points of intervention for policies aimed at reducing the extent of food waste in the life-cycle of food and the identification of interdependencies between potential policy levers.Abstract:
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, one-quarter to one-third of all the food produced worldwide is wasted. We develop a simple framework to systematically think about food waste based on the life cycle of a typical food item. Based on our framework, we identify problems with extant measures of food waste and propose a more consistent and practical approach. In so doing, we first show that the widely cited, extant measures of the quantity and value of food waste are inconsistent with one another and overstate the problem of food waste. By misdirecting and misallocating some of the resources that are currently put into food waste reduction efforts, this overstatement of the problem could have severe consequences for public policy. Our framework then allows documenting the points of intervention for policies aimed at reducing the extent of food waste in the life cycle of food and the identification of interdependencies between potential policy levers.read more
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
Value-added chemicals from food supply chain wastes: State-of-the-art review and future prospects
Xinni Xiong,Iris K.M. Yu,Iris K.M. Yu,Daniel C.W. Tsang,Nanthi Bolan,Yong Sik Ok,Avanthi Deshani Igalavithana,M. B. Kirkham,Ki-Hyun Kim,Kumar Vikrant +9 more
TL;DR: In this paper, the feasibility and sustainability of food waste derived chemicals, together with the market outlook of recycling and valorization of food wastes from state-of-the-art perspectives are discussed.
Journal ArticleDOI
Towards transparent valorization of food surplus, waste and loss: Clarifying definitions, food waste hierarchy, and role in the circular economy.
TL;DR: An updated pyramid for food waste hierarchy is proposed, distinguishing surplus food and a new category for material recycling, in order to reflect the future food waste biorefineries in the circular bioeconomy.
Journal ArticleDOI
Review: Food loss and waste in Sub-Saharan Africa
TL;DR: The current state of the literature on PHL mitigation is reviewed, the estimated magnitudes of losses are summarized, the methodologies used to generate those estimates are evaluated, and the dearth of thoughtful assessment around “optimal” PHL levels is explored.
Journal ArticleDOI
Rapid transformation of food systems in developing regions: Highlighting the role of agricultural research & innovations
Thomas Reardon,Ruben G. Echeverría,Julio A. Berdegué,Bart Minten,Saweda Liverpool-Tasie,David L. Tschirley,David Zilberman +6 more
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors highlight the role of agricultural research, viewed broadly as farm technology as well as research pertaining to all aspects of input and output value chains, and analyze the transformation in terms of these value chains' structure and conduct, and the effects of changes in those on its performance.
Posted Content
Food waste: The role of date labels, package size, and product category
TL;DR: In this article, the authors developed a laboratory experiment with treatments that expose subjects to different date labels (Sell by, Best by, Use by, and Fresh by) for six food products; they include both small and large-sized ready-to-eat cereal, salad greens, and yogurt.
References
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Book
Global food losses and food waste: extent, causes and prevention.
TL;DR: The Swedish Institute for Food and Biotechnology (SIK) as mentioned in this paper conducted two studies on global food losses, one for high/medium-income countries and one for low income countries, to serve as a basis for the international congress Save Food!, 16-17 May 2011, at the international packaging industry fair Interpack2011 in Dusseldorf, Germany.
Journal ArticleDOI
The Progressive Increase of Food Waste in America and Its Environmental Impact
TL;DR: It is found that US per capita food waste has progressively increased by ∼50% since 1974 reaching more than 1400 kcal per person per day or 150 trillion kcal per year.
Journal ArticleDOI
Postharvest losses and waste in developed and less developed countries: opportunities to improve resource use
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors compare and contrast postharvest food losses (PHLs) and waste in developed countries (especially the USA and the UK) with those in less-developed countries (LDCs), especially the case of cereals in sub-Saharan Africa.
Estimates of European food waste levels
Åsa Stenmarck,Carl Jensen,T.E. Quested,Graham K. Moates,Michael Buksti,Balázs Cseh,Selina Juul,Andrew Parry,Alessandro Politano,Barbara Redlingshöfer,Silvia Scherhaufer,Kirsi Silvennoinen,J.M. Soethoudt,Christine Zübert,Karin Östergren +14 more
Posted ContentDOI
The Estimated Amount, Value, and Calories of Postharvest Food Losses at the Retail and Consumer Levels in the United States
TL;DR: This paper provided the latest estimates by the US Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service (ERS) on the amount and value of food loss in the United States, and the top three food groups in terms of share of total value of loss are meat, poultry, and fish (30 percent); vegetables (19 percent); and dairy products (17 percent).