Reducing Plate Waste in Latvian Schools: Evaluating Interventions to Promote Sustainable Food Consumption Practices

Food waste (FW) threatens food security, environmental sustainability, and economic efficiency, with about one-third of global food production lost or wasted. Schools play a crucial role in addressing FW, representing lost resources and missed educational opportunities. The present research assessed three interventions to reduce plate waste (PW) in Rezekne City schools, namely (S1) a plate waste tracker, (S2) an awareness and educational campaign, and (S3) organizational changes, including larger plates, extended lunch breaks, and teacher supervision. Implemented in three schools with a fourth as a control, PW was measured at three intervals, at pre-intervention, short-term, and long-term post-intervention. The PW data analysis utilized two models (day view and class view) and a Wilcoxon signed-rank test. While the plate waste tracker initially reduced PW, sustained impact required continuous reinforcement. The awareness and educational campaign alone proved insufficient, highlighting the need for complex strategies. The organizational changes unexpectedly increased PW, underscoring FW's complexity. The research has concluded that reducing FW requires tailored and multi-faceted approaches. According to the MOA framework, the school catering model in Rezekne City lacks essential "Opportunities" for effective FW reduction, as students have limited flexibility in portion sizes and food choices, which hinders the interventions' effectiveness. Future research should explore adaptable FW-reducing interventions suited to specific school contexts.