Food Loss and Waste in the Sustainable Development Goals’ Nexus - Foresight Brief No. 020 November 2020

Food loss and waste, occurring on different stages of food production, distribution and consumption cycles, is now a truly global phenomenon. It results in humanity losing about one-third of total food produce and ca. ¼ of its caloric value. The effects of such a situation lead to wasted social and economic opportunities, as well as environmental degradation due to rising pressure on ecosystems stemming from the need for agricultural land. The brief addresses the various reasons for food loss and waste across the world, offering both habit nudges and policy changes that may lead to better practices by farmers, retailers or consumers.