Losses, inefficiencies and waste in the global food system
Scotland's Rural College · University of Edinburgh · +5 more institutions
Abstract
Losses at every stage in the food system influence the extent to which nutritional requirements of a growing global population can be sustainably met. Inefficiencies and losses in agricultural production and consumer behaviour all play a role. This paper aims to understand better the magnitude of different losses and to provide insights into how these influence overall food system efficiency. We take a systems view from primary production of agricultural biomass through to human food requirements and consumption. Quantities and losses over ten stages are calculated and compared in terms of dry mass, wet mass, protein and energy. The comparison reveals significant differences between these measurements, and the…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 55.34
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 84
Authors
6- PAPeter AlexanderCorresponding
Scotland's Rural College, University of Edinburgh
- CBCalum Brown
University of Edinburgh
- AAAlmut Arneth
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
- JFJohn Finnigan
CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Bureau of Meteorology, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
- DMDominic Moran
Scotland's Rural College, University of York
Topics & keywords
- Biomass (ecology)
- Agriculture
- Livestock
- Environmental science
- Production (economics)
- Sustainability
- Inefficiency
- Crop
- Zero hunger