Environmental implications of global food loss and waste with a glimpse on the Mediterranean region

Debs P., . and Berjan S., . and Allahyari M. S., . and Capone R., . and El Bilali H., . Environmental implications of global food loss and waste with a glimpse on the Mediterranean region. pp. 988-1000. ISSN 2231-7546

Food loss and waste (FLW) is one of the most critical challenges humanity faces in the Anthropocene era with major environmental impacts both at the local and global levels. FLW is related to two direct environmental impacts (i) depletion of resources used to produce food that is wasted and (ii) negative impacts on the environment including climate change. Indirect impacts of FLW include ecosystem disruption deforestation and biodiversity loss as well as water pollution and land degradation due to useless intensification of production through high application rates of fertilisers and pesticides. The current food production systems in the Mediterranean area face four main environmental challenges: land degradation water scarcity climate change and biodiversity loss; but published research in scholarly literature is limited. The per capita ecological footprint has increased in the Mediterranean countries over the last decades while biocapacity has decreased thus increasing the ecological debt of the region. Mediterranean countries are also large contributors of around 4.4 Gt CO‚‚ eq. per annum of the carbon footprint of food wastage which contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Considering water footprint a conservative percentage of 30 of water wastage occurs when food is wasted by the Mediterranean people. To address the FLW challenge Mediterranean countries must adopt and implement systematically monitored strategies for FLW prevention or reduction. In this context (i) current knowledge and available technologies (e.g. infrastructure in storage and transport) must be exploited (ii) development of novel technology must be supported and (iii) market reforms must be implemented. Concurrently awareness-raising campaigns and productive recycling of surplus food are required for reducing FLW by consumers and the food service sector.

Full text available from: Official URL: http://www.ifrj.upm.edu.my/27%20(06)%202020/DONE%2...

Abstract

Food loss and waste (FLW) is one of the most critical challenges humanity faces in the Anthropocene era with major environmental impacts both at the local and global levels. FLW is related to two direct environmental impacts (i) depletion of resources used to produce food that is wasted and (ii) negative impacts on the environment including climate change. Indirect impacts of FLW include ecosystem disruption deforestation and biodiversity loss as well as water pollution and land degradation due to useless intensification of production through high application rates of fertilisers and pesticides. The current food production systems in the Mediterranean area face four main environmental challenges: land degradation water scarcity climate change and biodiversity loss; but published research in scholarly literature is limited. The per capita ecological footprint has increased in the Mediterranean countries over the last decades while biocapacity has decreased thus increasing the ecological debt of the region. Mediterranean countries are also large contributors of around 4.4 Gt CO‚‚ eq. per annum of the carbon footprint of food wastage which contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Considering water footprint a conservative percentage of 30 of water wastage occurs when food is wasted by the Mediterranean people. To address the FLW challenge Mediterranean countries must adopt and implement systematically monitored strategies for FLW prevention or reduction. In this context (i) current knowledge and available technologies (e.g. infrastructure in storage and transport) must be exploited (ii) development of novel technology must be supported and (iii) market reforms must be implemented. Concurrently awareness-raising campaigns and productive recycling of surplus food are required for reducing FLW by consumers and the food service sector.

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Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	Food wastes
AGROVOC Term:	Environmental impact
AGROVOC Term:	Climate change
AGROVOC Term:	Food production
AGROVOC Term:	Land use
AGROVOC Term:	Sustainability
AGROVOC Term:	Food chains
AGROVOC Term:	Waste reduction
AGROVOC Term:	Food consumption
AGROVOC Term:	Food production
Depositing User:	Mr. AFANDI ABDUL MALEK
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 00:55
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/9440

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