Food Waste Reduction: Understanding Global Mitigation Strategies

Abstract

The central aim of this review is to address the critical issue of food waste and evaluate the effectiveness of food recovery programs in providing viable solutions. Despite global concerns regarding malnutrition and hunger, significant amounts of food go unconsumed, leading to economic and environmental complications worldwide. We seek to advance ongoing discussions of scientists and policymakers and contribute to food waste reduction efforts through an objective analysis of current food waste reduction programs and the examination of potential mitigation strategies. In turn, this would aid in alleviating the adverse impacts of food waste and combat food insecurity. This review explicitly examines two key food waste reduction policies: the Environmental Protection Agency’s Food Recovery Challenge and the European Union Platform on Food Losses and Food Waste. Both programs aim to reduce food waste and encourage collaboration to enhance food security. Additional solutions discussed in this review include extending the shelf life of food, encouraging the consumption of imperfect produce, and donating surplus food. Sources were found from various reliable databases with specific search terms to investigate mitigation strategies and better understand the issue at hand. By highlighting the detrimental effects of food waste, this paper aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of strategies to reduce food waste effectively, emphasizing the necessity of global action.