Identifying Loss and Waste Hotspots and Data Gaps throughout the Wheat and Bread Lifecycle in the Fars Province of Iran through Value Stream Mapping

Shahin Ghaziani (), Gholamreza Dehbozorgi, Mohammad Bakhshoodeh and Reiner Doluschitz
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Shahin Ghaziani: Department of Computer Applications and Business Management in Agriculture, University of Hohenheim (410C), 70593 Stuttgart, Germany
Gholamreza Dehbozorgi: Horizon Smart SAT (Surveillance and Analysis Technology), Fars Science and Technology Park, Shiraz 71976-87811, Iran
Mohammad Bakhshoodeh: Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz 71441-13131, Iran
Reiner Doluschitz: Department of Computer Applications and Business Management in Agriculture, University of Hohenheim (410C), 70593 Stuttgart, Germany

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 10, 1-24

Abstract: Reducing wheat and bread loss and waste is crucial for ensuring global food security and sustainability. The importance of reducing wheat and bread loss is particularly significant in Iran, where wheat is a staple crop and a vital component of the country’s food security. A value stream mapping study was conducted to identify loss and waste hotspots and critical data gaps along the wheat and bread lifecycle (WBL). In October 2018, 14 experts were surveyed in Fars province, Iran’s second-largest wheat producer. The study presents a detailed cradle-to-grave overview of WBL and identifies farms, foodservice, and households as the loss and waste hotspots. The results revealed significant data gaps regarding on-farm wheat loss and household bread waste. Additionally, although data exist in other segments of WBL, they are not readily accessible nor utilized to report loss and waste, highlighting the need for transparency within the WBL system and further research to compile existing data and analyze wheat and bread loss and waste. Other researchers can employ the holistic approach of the present study to investigate loss and waste throughout the lifecycle of other food items in different geographical contexts. The methodology adopted in this study offers advantages for defining the scope of research in lifecycle assessment and circular economy studies.

Keywords: food loss and waste; holistic approach; lifecycle assessment; lifecycle analysis; missing data; cereals; developing country (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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