Nature, 23 August 2024
Food loss and waste
Not only does the problem persist, but it is also getting worse. Nature Food’s Collection ‘Loss and waste in food systems’ is a contribution to the debate on drivers, impacts and solutions.
Food loss occurs along the food supply chain up to the sales level, whereas food waste refers to what is thrown away by retailers and consumers. Food loss and waste (FLW), the sum of the two, is central to the food systems crisis we are living through today — depleting natural resources, contributing to climate change and hindering food security. Curbing FLW can not only ameliorate these issues, but also avoid the additional environmental burden associated with future food production.