Food loss
Food Loss
Food loss (/fuːd lɔːs/) refers to the decrease in the quantity or quality of food resulting from decisions and actions by food suppliers in the chain, excluding retailers, food service providers and consumers. The etymology of the term "food loss" is derived from the English words "food" (from Old English fōda) and "loss" (from Old English los).
Food loss is closely related to, but distinct from, food waste, which refers to the discarding or alternative (non-food) use of food that is safe and nutritious for human consumption along the entire food supply chain, from primary production to end household consumer level.
Causes of Food Loss
Food loss can occur at production, post-harvest, and processing stages in the food supply chain. This can be the result of technical limitations, logistical challenges, and various other factors.
- Production - Food loss at the production stage can be due to a variety of factors including weather, disease, and pests.
- Post-harvest - After harvest, food loss can occur during storage, transportation, and processing. This can be due to poor infrastructure, lack of technology, or inadequate skills and knowledge.
- Processing - During processing, food loss can occur due to inefficiencies in the process, equipment malfunctions, or human error.
Impact of Food Loss
The impact of food loss is significant, affecting not only food security but also economic and environmental aspects. It leads to a waste of resources used in production such as land, water, energy and inputs, increasing the greenhouse gases emitted for nothing.
Prevention and Reduction of Food Loss
Preventing and reducing food loss requires a comprehensive approach that includes improving agricultural practices, enhancing storage and transportation infrastructure, and promoting efficient market mechanisms. It also involves raising awareness among farmers, traders, and consumers about the value of food and the importance of reducing loss.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Food loss
- Wikipedia's article - Food loss
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