On 29 September we observe the UN International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste. Last year, we highlighted the crucial contributions of food scientists in tackling this issue. This year, we will examine the additional progress made and how food researchers, producers, and others can sustain this momentum and build on existing research.
The issue of food loss and waste has reached critical levels, impacting not only food security but also environmental sustainability. Approximately 13% of the world's food is lost in the supply chain from post-harvest to retail, while an additional 19% of food available to consumers is wasted at the retail, food service, and household levels. This contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating climate change.
By addressing food loss and waste, it has the potential to alleviate hunger and malnutrition, as well as conserving resources such as water and energy. The financial cost of food waste is another significant concern, representing a major economic loss for individuals and businesses alike.
Research is pivotal in understanding and addressing the complexities of food loss and waste. By investigating the causes and exploring potential solutions, researchers can develop strategies to minimise waste at every stage of the supply chain—from production to consumption.
In recent years, there has been an increasing amount of research dedicated to this field. Last year we explored the staggering 525% increase in research on food waste in 2022 compared to a decade earlier, based on analysis of the Food Science and Technology Abstracts (FSTA) database.
This growth continued in 2023, with FSTA records on food waste totalling over 4,600, marking an 18% increase compared to 2022. This trend reflects the growing recognition of the importance of research in this area and the potential it holds for making impactful changes.
Recent research has led to a variety of innovative solutions aimed at reducing food loss and waste. These include advancements in packaging technology that extend the shelf life of perishable goods, as well as the development of apps and digital platforms that connect surplus food with those in need.
Researchers are also exploring ways to repurpose food waste into valuable products, such as biofuels, animal feed, and compost. These innovations not only help reduce waste but also create economic opportunities and contribute to a circular economy.
Moreover, reducing food waste contributes to other SDGs, such as Goal 2: Zero Hunger, by increasing the availability of food resources. It also supports Goal 13: Climate Action, by mitigating the environmental impact associated with food waste. Thus, continued research in this field is essential for fostering a more sustainable and equitable future.
Food waste valorization offers numerous benefits, transforming waste into valuable products and contributing to a more sustainable food system. By converting food waste into biofuels, animal feed, compost, and more, it not only reduces the environmental impact but also creates economic opportunities. This process supports the circular economy, where waste is minimised, and resources are reused efficiently. Additionally, valorization can help alleviate food insecurity by redirecting surplus food to those in need, thus addressing both environmental and social challenges simultaneously.
Research on valorization has grown substantially in the past decade, with analysis of the FSTA database revealing a staggering 1625% increase in records in 2023 compared to 2014.
But searching for relevant and trustworthy research on this topic can be challenging if you are not using the right tools.
Or perhaps the utilisation of waste products. Or use of byproducts. Or even gathered from pineapple peel. There are so many ways that researchers may describe their investigations, even before considering those articles originally published in other languages. It can make finding all of the available scientific literature on your chosen topic incredibly difficult. But the costs associated with missing key research can be severe; both wasted time and money, and even risk to the public.
However, utilising controlled vocabulary means that you can be confident that your search is comprehensive. By searching with the FSTA Thesaurus, your results will include variations, plurals and synonyms for that term, as well as results in over 40 languages. The FSTA thesaurus is the most comprehensive food and beverage thesaurus in the world. IFIS' food science experts ensure that everything is indexed using unique, food-specific keywords, enabling you to search efficiently.
The concept of valorization is far from unique to the food industry, so search tools like Google Scholar and other multidisciplinary databases can provide false hits, making it more difficult and time consuming to find the information you need. Searching valorization in Google Scholar may well bring up some relevant articles, but will also bring up research related to construction, non-food-related chemical engineering, and even Marxist economic theory.
Thankfully, this isn't a concern when searching within the range of IFIS resources. Unlike Google Scholar, everything is carefully curated to ensure it is trustworthy and relevant to the sciences of food and health. This minimises the chance for false hits, making it easier to find exactly what you want. Using a thesaurus designed for those interested in food and nutrition science means that your results will always be relevant. This allows you to strike the right balance for a comprehensive search strategy, giving you the best foundation for your ongoing research, product formulation, studies, and more.
To effectively tackle food loss and waste, it is crucial to utilise the right research tools for your project. Platforms like FSTA and IFIS Sustainability provide access to a wealth of information and resources that can help researchers and practitioners stay informed about the latest developments in the field.
IFIS Sustainability is a comprehensive discovery platform freely available to all, containing a collection of global food science. This 6-month rolling database is updated weekly, ensuring you have immediate access to the latest research shaping the future of sustainable food science. It is the perfect way to keep on top of new research and innovation in the field of food loss and waste.
Keep exploring food loss and waste with free access to IFIS Sustainability.
For those wanting a more holistic view of over 50 years of research on this area, FSTA is the answer. Find and explore authoritative research directly related to the sciences of food and health, with the tool trusted by the global food community.
Both FSTA and IFIS Sustainability are built on the FSTA Thesaurus, the most comprehensive food and beverage thesaurus in the world. Whichever option you choose, you can be sure that your results will be relevant and reliable.
Whichever you choose, by utilising these tools, the food science community can build on existing research, identify gaps, and collaborate on innovative solutions. This approach ensures that efforts to reduce food loss and waste are well-informed and have the maximum possible impact.