Challenges and Prospects of Tackling Food Loss and Wastes in the Circular Economy Context

Rajeev Bhat (), Minaxi Sharma, Reelika Rätsep, Dunja Malenica and Katrin Jõgi
Additional contact information
Rajeev Bhat: Estonian University of Life Sciences
Minaxi Sharma: Estonian University of Life Sciences
Reelika Rätsep: Polli Horticultural Research Centre
Dunja Malenica: Estonian University of Life Sciences
Katrin Jõgi: Estonian University of Life Sciences

A chapter in Sustainable Food Value Chain Development, 2023, pp 15-36 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract In the present-day global consequences, sustainable utilization of agri-food industries generated wastes and by-products to produce value-added products assumes prime importance. One of the key features on which the concept of the circular economy relies is on maximal utilization of agricultural resources with minimal wastes/by-products being generated through the entire production and supply chain. The circular economy is the continual use of resources in a sustainable way and is considered to be an efficient substitute for the linear economy model. Modern-day technological innovations are aimed towards meeting the requirements of the local industry and government, stakeholders, developing appropriate business models, policy formulations, and accomplishing societal needs/demands that can significantly contribute towards the success of the circular economy. In this view, the present chapter proposes various sustainable approaches that can be adopted to ensure the effective valorization of wastes and by-products generated throughout the agri-food supply chain. Novel methods to tackle food loss and/or food waste in relevance to the circular economy (bioeconomy) context are deliberated (specifically taking into consideration the EU context and high-income-generating countries and compared with low- and middle-income-generating countries). Further, in the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this chapter theme addresses predominantly SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Vital features covered in this chapter revolve around proposing innovative means for minimizing loss/wastes at the “on-farm” and “off-farm” levels as well as maximal utilization of agri-food industrial by-products (mainly obtained from the fruits, vegetables, and dairy processing industries). Conclusively, it is opined that tackling food loss and waste coupled with valorization technologies and a green approach can provide plenty of opportunities and stability aimed towards realizing the success of circular bioeconomy.

Keywords: Food loss; Food wastes; Food security; Circular economy; Bioeconomy; Sustainability challenges; Valorization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

There are no downloads for this item, see the EconPapers FAQ for hints about obtaining it.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-981-19-6454-1_2

Ordering information: This item can be ordered from
http://www.springer.com/9789811964541

DOI: 10.1007/978-981-19-6454-1_2

Access Statistics for this chapter

More chapters in Springer Books from Springer
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().