May 1, 2024
Updated June 5, 2025
16 minute read
An Introduction to the Field of Food Waste
Food waste is a complex and pressing global issue that encompasses all edible food intended for human consumption that is discarded, lost, or degraded throughout the food supply chain. This includes everything from crops left in the field after a harvest to uneaten food scraped from a dinner plate. The sheer scale of the problem is staggering; globally, it is estimated that around one-third of all food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted each year. This amounts to approximately 1.3 billion tons of food, with a staggering economic cost estimated at nearly $1 trillion annually. Addressing food waste is not just about saving food; it's a critical component of building a sustainable future, ensuring food security, and mitigating climate change.
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Find a path to becoming a Food Waste. Learn more at:
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Reading list
We've selected 19 books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Food Waste.
Provides a comprehensive and accessible overview of the food waste problem on a global scale. It explores the causes and consequences of waste throughout the food supply chain, from farm to fork. It is an excellent starting point for gaining a broad understanding of the topic and is often cited as a foundational text in the field.
Offers a well-rounded view of food loss and waste, examining the challenges of definition and measurement, the drivers behind FLW, its environmental impacts, and ethical considerations. It provides a comprehensive assessment of reduction strategies across the supply chain and is valuable for understanding the policy landscape.
Provides a broad overview of food waste management, covering challenges, opportunities, and policy frameworks. It includes contributions on various aspects of managing food waste effectively. This book useful reference for understanding the multifaceted nature of food waste management.
Connects the dots between food waste, global hunger, and climate change. It emphasizes the ethical and environmental dimensions of food waste. It's a valuable read for understanding the interconnectedness of these critical issues.
This practical handbook provides actionable tips and strategies for reducing food waste in the home kitchen. It covers meal planning, storage, and creative ways to use leftovers. While focused on the consumer level, it reinforces the impact of individual actions discussed in broader texts and is highly relevant for anyone seeking to reduce their personal food waste footprint.
Offers an overview of the causes of food waste globally and provides practical solutions for reducing it. It recent publication that addresses the topic directly and aims to provide actionable insights for a sustainable future.
Provides a bold and innovative plan to reduce food waste and end hunger. It must-read for anyone who is serious about addressing the problem of food waste.
Focusing on the technical aspects, this book explores how food waste can be reduced through processing and converted into valuable by-products. It's a valuable resource for those interested in the scientific and industrial solutions to food waste. is more suitable for those with a background in food science or related technical fields.
While not solely about food waste, Drawdown identifies reducing food waste as one of the most impactful solutions to climate change. The chapter on food waste provides a concise overview of its potential for emissions reduction. It's an essential read for understanding the significance of food waste in the climate context.
Connects food systems, including the issue of food waste, to climate change and regenerative agriculture. While not solely focused on food waste, it provides crucial context on the environmental impact of food production and consumption, highlighting how reducing waste fits into a larger picture of sustainable food systems.
Provides a broad overview of the causes and impacts of global food shortages, with a perspective essay specifically addressing food insecurity, food waste, and food banks. It helps contextualize food waste within the larger issue of food security and global food systems. Recommended for advanced undergraduates and graduate students.
This cookbook offers a practical and inspiring approach to reducing food waste in the home kitchen through creative recipes and tips. It makes the concept of zero-waste cooking approachable for home cooks. It complements theoretical understanding with practical application.
While primarily a cookbook, this book promotes a flexible and resourceful approach to cooking that naturally minimizes food waste. It encourages using what you have on hand and provides recipes that can be adapted to utilize scraps and leftovers. It offers a practical, everyday perspective on reducing waste in the kitchen.
Advocates for a mindful and economical approach to cooking that naturally minimizes waste by emphasizing resourcefulness and using ingredients fully. While not a traditional anti-food waste book, its philosophy aligns strongly with reducing waste through skillful cooking and appreciation of food.
Tells the story of a community revitalizing itself through building a local food system. While not exclusively about food waste, it provides a compelling example of how strong local food networks can inherently lead to less waste and greater food security. It offers a valuable perspective on alternative food systems.
Provides a practical guide to reducing food waste at home. It covers a wide range of topics, including food waste prevention, food waste storage, and food waste composting.
While seemingly unrelated, this book's discussion of longer working lives and the need for new life structures has implications for how we think about resource consumption, including food. It provides a broader societal context that can inform discussions on sustainable consumption and waste reduction over a lifetime.
Provides a collection of plant-based recipes and tips for reducing food waste in the kitchen. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to live a more sustainable lifestyle.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/topic/akgecx/food
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