Hybrid and cross-industry partnerships to end food waste

April 26, 2023

The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that ending food waste would preserve enough food to feed 2 billion people – more than twice the number of undernourished people in the world.  It is essential that we work together to reduce the amount of food waste generated and put those resources to good use.

There are a variety of steps that can be taken to reduce food waste, ranging from changes in consumer behavior to improvements in food production, storage, and distribution processes. Consumers can share meals together, buy only what they need and plan ahead of time to prevent overbuying. In addition to traditional food banks, consumers can also make use of food-sharing programs such as Ample Harvest to donate excess food to those in need. Faith-based and community-based initiatives such as through the Hiver Solidaire, the Iftar Solidaire, La Table du Coeur and One Taka Meal also provide meals, shelter and other resources for those in a vulnerable situation.

At the production level, farmers and producers need to reinforce understanding of best practices for harvesting, packaging, and storing food in order to reduce spoilage before it reaches consumers. Additionally, improved transportation networks, particularly in developing economies, are needed to ensure that food is delivered to stores and restaurants quickly enough that it does not go bad in transit.

At the storage and distribution level, companies can incorporate smart storage solutions such as temperature-controlled warehouses and refrigerated transportation vehicles to reduce spoilage. They can also implement better forecasting systems that allow them to adjust orders based on demand, which will help ensure that less food is wasted due to overstocking.

Finally, governments can invest in public awareness campaigns to educate people about the importance of reducing food waste. They can also introduce policies that make it easier for businesses to donate surplus food or use food waste as animal feed or compost material.

Multinational also organizations play an important role in ending food waste. The United Nations has been at the forefront of this global effort, launching initiatives such as Save Food and encouraging businesses to minimize their food waste. Equally, a number of corporations have begun using data-driven techniques to reduce food waste throughout their supply chain. These efforts can go further.

Although a number of mandatory food donation measures now exist, additional incentives are needed for businesses to reduce food waste, such as tax credits or subsidies. In addition, education campaigns, including through gamification, can also encourage consumers to purchase only what they need and donate excess food when possible.

The Sustainability Accounting Standards Board cites food waste management as material to food distributors’ operating performance, recommending disclosure of the aggregate amount of food waste generated and the percentage diverted from landfills. A number of multinationals in the food sector disclose or have committed to quantitative disclosure of food waste levels, set targets for food waste reduction, and publish information on progress towards these goals. Taking efforts further, particularly through hybrid and cross-industry partnerships, in the food and beverage sectors (including through online retailers) have the potential to create important food management programs, including through data measure measures to better predict and improve food management goals.

Addressing food waste requires an integrated and collaborative approach from all stakeholders across the food supply chain. To be successful, we must focus on prevention, reduction and reuse of food throughout the entire process – from production to consumption, working with farmers, retailers and technology companies, which each have important value to add to reduce global food waste.

CPM