Review of food waste prevention on an international level

Abstract

Research on food waste is a topic of paramount significance, which is also reflected in a growing number of reports and scientific papers published online as well as in scientific journals. The aim of the present paper is to summarise published, international research on food waste prevention with respect to different countries and segments along the food supply chain to indicate where such information is available. The focus is on papers in English. It was found that a large amount of information is available in regions such as North America, Western Europe and to a lesser extent in Australia and Northern Europe, whereas elsewhere there is a distinct lack of food waste related publishing in English. Agricultural information can be gathered from most developing countries, but household waste is generally investigated within industrialised regions. Some topics have so far not been targeted sufficiently, for example methodology, definitions, logistics, wholesale and redistribution. Research on food waste is a topic of paramount significance, which is also reflected in a growing number of reports and scientific papers published online as well as in scientific journals. The aim of the present paper is to summarise published, international research on food waste prevention with respect to different countries and segments along the food supply chain to indicate where such information is available. The focus is on papers in English. It was found that a large amount of information is available in regions such as North America, Western Europe and to a lesser extent in Australia and Northern Europe, whereas elsewhere there is a distinct lack of food waste related publishing in English. Agricultural information can be gathered from most developing countries, but household waste is generally investigated within industrialised regions. Some topics have so far not been targeted sufficiently, for example methodology, definitions, logistics, wholesale and redistribution.