Strategies for Reducing Food Waste: Turning Surplus into Solutions

By, Nur Hazleen

Referring to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), roughly about 1.3 billion tons of food are wasted every year, which indicates a prevalent concern on a global scale. Food waste refers to the edible food that is lost, unused, discarded, or being thrown away, leading to serious negative effects on the economy, environment, and society. 

Food waste happens at various stages of the food supply chain, such as in manufacturing, processing, distribution, retail, and consumption levels, each of which has its own contributing elements. For instance, the production stage witnessed a huge food waste where weather conditions, improper harvesting methods, inability to meet the products’ standard quality, and overstocking are some of the reasons that led to it. 

Fortunately, food waste is avoidable, and there are various ways to turn the surplus into solutions. 

Production level 

Producers should practice better harvesting techniques, such as choosing the right tools and timing, to help reduce food loss due to bruising or poor handling. Also, investment in cold chain logistics is hardly encouraged, especially in hot areas; it is to prevent the perishable food spoilage during transits, which results in minimizing waste. 

Retail level

Factors such as damage and unsold inventory that passed its expiration date contribute to significant waste at the retail level. Retailers like restaurants, supermarkets, and food vendors should improve their inventory management by employing data analytics to precisely forecast the demand. They can sell food that is approaching its expiration date at a lower price to increase the possibility of customers buying it rather than going to waste. They can also donate any surplus food to local charities. 

Consumption level

The main sources of food waste in consumption level come from over-purchasing and lack of awareness about food storage. Awareness campaigns should be implemented to help people plan their meals more carefully and pay attention to their own portion sizes. Also, food waste can be significantly reduced by taking small steps, like simply purchasing only necessary food and finding innovative ways to use leftovers. 

Promoting a circular economy cycle

Promoting reusing, recycling, or repurposing food waste can close its loop. This method can reduce the demand for fresh resources and the environmental impact of food production. For instance, the technological developments in processing food waste, such as anaerobic digestion, can transform food scraps into useful goods like fertilizer, biogas, or even environmentally friendly packaging. Also, food waste that is not suitable for human consumption can be turned into animal feed. 

Food waste is a serious worldwide issue but also offers a chance for improvement. By using a variety of methods, ranging from practicing better harvesting techniques to embracing the ideas of the circular economy. In order to achieve the goals of reducing food waste, authorities, businesses, and consumers must all contribute to transforming the surplus into solutions. ***