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Review
. 2016:2016:3563478.
doi: 10.1155/2016/3563478. Epub 2016 Oct 26.

Progress towards Sustainable Utilisation and Management of Food Wastes in the Global Economy

Purabi R Ghosh  1 , Derek Fawcett  1 , Shashi B Sharma  2 , Gerrard Eddy Jai Poinern  1
Affiliations
Review

Progress towards Sustainable Utilisation and Management of Food Wastes in the Global Economy

Purabi R Ghosh et al. Int J Food Sci. 2016.

Abstract

In recent years, the problem of food waste has attracted considerable interest from food producers, processors, retailers, and consumers alike. Food waste is considered not only a sustainability problem related to food security, but also an economic problem since it directly impacts the profitability of the whole food supply chain. In developed countries, consumers are one of the main contributors to food waste and ultimately pay for all wastes produced throughout the food supply chain. To secure food and reduce food waste, it is essential to have a comprehensive understanding of the various sources of food wastes throughout the food supply chain. The present review examines various reports currently in the literature and quantifies waste levels and examines the trends in wastage for various food sectors such as fruit and vegetable, fisheries, meat and poultry, grain, milk, and dairy. Factors contributing to food waste, effective cost/benefit food waste utilisation methods, sustainability and environment considerations, and public acceptance are identified as hurdles in preventing large-scale food waste processing. Thus, we highlight the need for further research to identify and report food waste so that government regulators and food supply chain stakeholders can actively develop effective waste utilisation practices.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Percentage grain waste in selected developing and less developed countries.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Comparison between food waste quantities (%, by mass) and the cost of food waste (%, by value) in each stage of the food supply chain in South Africa [62].
Figure 3
Figure 3
During processing, the fillets are considered usable and the remainder is waste.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Scottish salmon farming waste disposal routes [131].
Figure 5
Figure 5
Global usage of fishmeal (adapted from World Bank data) [120].
Figure 6
Figure 6
Captured and farmed aquatic plant food species in 2010 (data in tonnes) [118, 156].
Figure 7
Figure 7
Important factors that need to be considered for successful utilisation of a food waste based product.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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