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Food Waste: A Critical Review of Causes, Impacts, and Solutions for Sustainable Food Systems
The global community faces two signifcant challenges: food waste and hunger. However, in contrast to other concerns, the paradox in this topic lies in the fact that the food that is wasted on a worldwide scale, if appropriately recovered, has the potential to satisfy the food requirements of all those experiencing hunger, thereby effectively addressing the problem of hunger to a signifcant degree. The issue of food waste is a two-sided problem, as it not only results in widespread hunger but also contributes to environmental degradation by increasing global carbon foot prints through greenhouse gas emissions during production and disposal. The issue at hand is not as straightforward as it may frst seem since it encompasses more than just environmental and economic concerns (Jeswani et al., 2021). The issue needs to be addressed judiciously as it has a twin impact on food availability and hence hunger, along with its environmental impact because of the considerable gas emissions in the environment. To ensure that the methodologies developed to reduce food waste are effciently implemented, it is necessary to fnd a suitable assessment model that can weigh the costs and benefts of the model (Garrone et al., 2014).
Bibliometric analysis of the studies related to food waste shows how the past 15 years have seen a signifcant interest in the area of food waste. The period coincides with international efforts undertaken to mitigate food waste and develop strategies for food waste management. The importance of food-waste management and its role in promoting sustainable development can be assessed from its role in attaining various Sustainable Development Goals: no hunger, climate action, sustainable cities, and a blue economy, among others. Other than the strategies and policies undertaken at the international level, various other technology-induced innovations can help promote the circular economy and minimize food waste at all levels of the supply chain.
Through the use of these strategies and the promotion of collaborative efforts among governmental bodies, enterprises, nongovernmental organizations, and people, it becomes feasible to alleviate the adverse consequences of food waste and establish food systems that are more environmentally sustainable. The adoption of a comprehensive strategy that incorporates the reduction of food waste within broader sustainability objectives, such as the Sustainable Development Goals, is imperative in order to facilitate systemic transformation and achieve a future characterized by the minimization of food waste, optimization of resources, and universal access to nutritious and affordable food for all individuals.
