‘Mind the Gap’: Reducing Waste and Losses in the Food Supply Chain

One oft-neglected strategy to improve food availability is the simple act of reducing waste. Inefficiencies across the entire food supply chain – from ‘farm to fork’ – result in significant food losses in both developing and developed countries. As much as 30 per cent of all food grown worldwide may be lost or wasted before and after it reaches the consumer. Reducing such waste could help moderate the amount of increase in food production that is needed to meet growing food demand, which would alleviate the pressure on resources and help lower greenhouse gas emissions. This NTS Insight argues that, given its significant direct and indirect benefits, the reducing of food waste warrants urgent attention from policymakers, the private sector and non-governmental actors.