Minimising food waste: a call for multidisciplinary research

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Food Science
• Sustainability Studies

Background:

• Food loss and waste represent a significant global challenge impacting food security.
• Current data on postharvest loss and waste are often questionable, leading to misinformed key performance indicators.
• Disparities exist in the nature and extent of food waste across different economic development levels.

Purpose of the Study:

• To advocate for a paradigm shift in funding and research strategies for food preservation.
• To encourage the development and implementation of integrated biological, engineering, and management solutions.
• To highlight the necessity of multidisciplinary approaches for sustainable food and nutritional security.

Main Methods:

• The study argues for a shift in research and funding priorities.
• It emphasizes the need for multidisciplinary collaboration across global food supply chains.
• It calls for the development of robust postharvest research networks and global funding mechanisms.

Main Results:

• Reducing food loss and waste is more tractable than increasing production in the short to medium term.
• Innovative food preservation technologies require more resource allocation to maintain food safety and quality.
• Existing research networks and funding mechanisms outside developed nations are insufficient.

Conclusions:

• A paradigm shift towards collective biological, engineering, and management solutions is needed to better preserve and utilize food.
• Interdisciplinary thinking and collaboration across supply chains are essential for achieving food and nutritional security.
• Enhanced capacity building, knowledge exchange, and funding are required to reduce global food losses and waste.