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Reducing food loss and waste: Five challenges for policy and research

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  • Cattaneo, Andrea
  • Sánchez, Marco V.
  • Torero, Máximo
  • Vos, Rob

Abstract

Despite broad agreement in policy circles on the need to reduce food loss and waste (FLW), considerable gaps in information still exist. This paper identifies policy-relevant information gaps, summarizes recent research that tries to fill these gaps and identifies five challenges for researchers, policymakers and practitioners in reducing FLW. The five challenges identified are: (i) measuring and monitoring FLW, (ii) assessing benefits and costs of FLW reduction and the tradeoffs involved, (iii) designing FLW-related policies and interventions under limited information, (iv) understanding how interactions between stages along food value chain and across countries affect outcomes of FLW reduction efforts, (v) preparing for income transitions and the shifting relative importance of losses and waste as economies develop.

Suggested Citation

  • Cattaneo, Andrea & Sánchez, Marco V. & Torero, Máximo & Vos, Rob, 2021. "Reducing food loss and waste: Five challenges for policy and research," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jfpoli:v:98:y:2021:i:c:s0306919220301780
    DOI: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2020.101974
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    10. Christopher Mutungi & Julius Manda & Shiferaw Feleke & Adebayo Abass & Mateete Bekunda & Irmgard Hoschle-Zeledon & Gundula Fischer, 2023. "Adoption and impacts of improved post-harvest technologies on food security and welfare of maize-farming households in Tanzania: a comparative assessment," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 15(4), pages 1007-1023, August.
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    12. Michele Pedrotti & Daniele Fattibene & Marta Antonelli & Bob Castelein, 2023. "Approaching Urban Food Waste in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Framework and Evidence from Case Studies in Kibera (Nairobi) and Dhaka," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-21, February.
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