Food loss & waste

Food loss and waste is endemic within food supply chains, causing considerable economic, social, and environmental damage. With global hunger on the rise, addressing these inefficiencies is vital. According to the World Food Programme, the agrifood industry produces sufficient food for the global population, however, as much as 35% is lost or wasted from production to consumption, leading to widespread poverty and malnutrition. Moreover, food loss leads to systemic waste of resources such as land, water, and energy, exacerbating environmental concerns.

Loss and waste within the supply chain can occur for many reasons. At a farm level, pests, disease, adverse weather conditions, and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns due to climate change can damage crops and reduce yields. Further downstream, a lack of infrastructure, poor supply/demand forecasting, and poor food management practices can lead to overproduction and large amounts of wasted or spoiled product. Ultimately, a sustained effort to reduce food loss and waste across global supply chains will enable food producers to feed a larger population while simultaneously conserving resources. This transition is already under way, with the UN Sustainable Development Goals aiming to halve per capita food waste and food loss by 2030.