The Hidden Burden of Food Waste: The Double Energy Waste in Italy

Matteo Vittuari, Fabio De Menna and Marco Pagani
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Matteo Vittuari: Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 50, 40124 Bologna, Italy
Fabio De Menna: Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 50, 40124 Bologna, Italy
Marco Pagani: Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 50, 40124 Bologna, Italy

Energies, 2016, vol. 9, issue 8, 1-24

Abstract: The energy intensity of modern food systems represents a major issue in a scenario of decreasing oil resources and increasing population. Beside the use of renewable energy, an increased efficiency in food systems could contribute to reduce fossil fuels dependence. In this sense, food losses and waste (FLW) have crucial consequences on the energy balance. Based on the concept of “embodied energy”, food wastage can be framed as a double waste of energy, both in terms of non-consumed food energy and the inputs used for production. Secondary data regarding direct and indirect energy inputs and FLW have been collected for the Italian food chain to estimate the embodied energy of food waste. Since in 2011 the production and distribution of food implied the use of 822 PJ and 18 Mt of food was discarded, 67 PJ of food energy and 100 PJ of embodied energy were wasted. These figures are equivalent to 12.2% of the total nutritional energy output and to 1.3% of the final energy use in Italy, respectively. The concept of double energy waste sheds new light on the intertwined relationship between energy and food security, suggesting that appropriate food waste reduction policies could result in a higher food production level and relevant energy savings.

Keywords: food waste; energy waste; sustainable food systems; Italy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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