The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) invites you to attend a presentation on
Food Loss and Waste
A paper in the series on
The Need for Agricultural Innovation to Sustainably Feed the World by 2050
Washington, DC
September 28, 2018
~ ~ ~
Two time and venue options
10:00 a.m. or Noon (lunch offered)
This event is free and open to the public. RSVP requested.
Can't attend in person? A video will be available on the CAST website post event.
Contact
Melissa SlyCouncil for Agricultural Science and Technology
515-292-2125
msly@cast-science.org
10:00 - 11:00 a.m. 328A Russell Senate Office Building
2 Constitution Avenue NE, Washington, DC
Noon - 1:00 p.m. Chick Fil-A Lunch offered.
1302 Longworth House Office Building
9 Independence Ave SE, Washington, DC
Dr. Zhengxia Dou, Professor of Agricultural Systems at the University of Pennsylvania's Department of Clinical Studies, will present highlights of this CAST report.
CAST will release this issue paper, which will be the focal point for the presentation, on September 28, 2018. It will then be available as a free download from the CAST website. (www.cast-science.org/publications)
CAST will release this issue paper, which will be the focal point for the presentation, on September 28, 2018. It will then be available as a free download from the CAST website. (www.cast-science.org/publications)
Abstract: Reducing food loss and waste (FLW) is one of the key strategies to combat hunger and sustainably feed the world. This paper provides a critical overview of U.S. FLW through an objective, balanced, and data-driven approach. There are four sections. First, the magnitude of the problem is described using four major data sources at the national level and the different scope and boundaries of these data are compared; there follows a discussion of the three fundamental resources for primary food production—land, water, and fertilizer—that are embedded in the lost and wasted food, plus other resource costs. Second, the authors discuss why FLW occurs, drawing attention to the many issues of the FLW problem at the consumer end—food-wasting behavior, the “whys,” and the interacting influence of psychological, social, cultural, and economic factors; they also describe major actions that are being taken across the nation to decrease FLW. Third, a hard look at existing data on the quantity of food waste prevention, recovery, and recycling is taken by compiling all major sources of data that could be located, providing a “reality check” on how well the country is performing on lessening FLW. Finally, the authors present an interpretative and critical analysis concerning three key issues: How can the United States work toward the 50% reduction goal by 2030 knowingly and confidently? What technological innovations may be game changers? What other approaches could be explored to influence consumer food behavior for the better?