BSR Insight | Preventing Food Loss and Waste
About the Author(s)
Elissa Goldenberg, Associate, Advisory Services
Publication Date
August 23, 2011
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According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s recent report, nearly one third or 1.3 billion tons of food produced for human consumption every year is lost or wasted. This report identifies the causes of food waste and loss, assesses their magnitude, and provides ways to prevent them.
Recommendations for business include:
- Invest in better transportation and storage infrastructure to prevent post-harvest food spoilage.
- Develop markets for sub-standard products that are still safe, taste good, and have nutritional value.
- Create marketing cooperatives—a central point to collect produce from small-scale farmers and prepare it for transportation or distribution—to improve the efficiency of getting food to markets.
- Support government efforts to create incentives for the private sector to invest in the food industry and work more closely with farmers on supply challenges.
About the Author(s)
Elissa Goldenberg, Associate, Advisory Services
With four years of sustainability communications expertise, Elissa works with BSR member companies in a range of sectors—including those in information and communications technology; food, beverage, and agriculture; energy; and consumer products—on various sustainability issues including reporting, stakeholder engagement, and human rights... Read more →
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