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A Worldwide Hotspot Analysis on Food Loss and Waste, Associated Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and Protein Losses

Author

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  • Xuezhen Guo

    (Fresh Food & Chains Department, Wageningen Food & Biobased Research, PO Box 17, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Jan Broeze

    (Fresh Food & Chains Department, Wageningen Food & Biobased Research, PO Box 17, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Jim J. Groot

    (Fresh Food & Chains Department, Wageningen Food & Biobased Research, PO Box 17, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Heike Axmann

    (Fresh Food & Chains Department, Wageningen Food & Biobased Research, PO Box 17, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Martijntje Vollebregt

    (Fresh Food & Chains Department, Wageningen Food & Biobased Research, PO Box 17, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Reducing food loss and waste (FLW) is prioritized in UN sustainable development goals (SDG) target 12.3 to contribute to “ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns”. It is expected to significantly improve global food security and mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Identifying “hotspots” from different perspectives of sustainability helps to prioritize the food items for which interventions can lead to the largest reduction of FLW-related impacts. Existing studies in this field have limitations, such as having incomplete geographical and food commodity coverage, using outdated data, and focusing on the mass of FLW instead of its nutrient values. To provide renewed and more informative insights, we conducted a global hotspot analysis concerning FLW with its associated GHG emissions and protein losses using the most recent data (the new FAO Food Balance Sheets updated in 2020). The findings of this research are that there were 1.9 Gt of FLW, 2.5 Gt of associated GHG emissions, and 0.1 Gt of associated protein losses globally in 2017. The results of the FLW amounts, GHG emissions, and protein losses per chain link are given on the scale of the entire world and continental regions. Next to this, food items with relatively high FLW, GHG emissions, and protein losses are highlighted to provide the implications to policymakers for better decision making. For example, fruits and vegetables contribute the most to global FLW volumes, but the product with the highest FLW-associated GHG emissions is bovine meat. For bovine meat, FLW-associated GHG emissions are highest at the consumer stage of North America and Oceania. Oil crops are the major source of protein losses in the global food chain. Another important finding with policy implications is that priorities for FLW reduction vary, dependent on prioritized sustainability criteria (e.g., GHG emissions versus protein losses).

Suggested Citation

  • Xuezhen Guo & Jan Broeze & Jim J. Groot & Heike Axmann & Martijntje Vollebregt, 2020. "A Worldwide Hotspot Analysis on Food Loss and Waste, Associated Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and Protein Losses," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-19, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:18:p:7488-:d:412394
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mei Bai & Wen Li & Jin Xu, 2023. "Research on Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Methods of SBR and Anoxic Oxic Urban Sewage Treatment System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-15, April.
    2. Aryal, Jeetendra P., 2022. "Contribution of Agriculture to Climate Change and Low-Emission Agricultural Development in Asia and the Pacific," ADBI Working Papers 1340, Asian Development Bank Institute.
    3. Rose Daphnee Tchonkouang & Helen Onyeaka & Taghi Miri, 2023. "From Waste to Plate: Exploring the Impact of Food Waste Valorisation on Achieving Zero Hunger," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-21, July.
    4. Jan Broeze & Xuezhen Guo & Heike Axmann, 2023. "Trade-Off Analyses of Food Loss and Waste Reduction and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Food Supply Chains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-16, May.
    5. 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.
    6. Confidence Duku & Carlos Alho & Rik Leemans & Annemarie Groot, 2022. "IFAD Research Series 72: Climate change and food system activities - a review of emission trends, climate impacts and the effects of dietary change," IFAD Research Series 320722, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

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