2019/08/12 by Edward S. Spang, Laura C. Moreno, Sara A. Pace +8 · 1 citation
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Environmental Science · #Food Waste Reduction and Sustainability #Municipal Solid Waste Management #Urban Agriculture and Sustainability
paper · doi:10.1146/annurev-environ-101718-033228
openalex publication_date 2019/08/12 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
It has been estimated that one-third of global food is lost or wasted, entailing significant environmental, economic, and social costs. The scale and impact of food loss and waste (FLW) has attracted significant interest across sectors, leading to a relatively recent proliferation of publications. This article synthesizes existing knowledge in the literature with a focus on FLW measurement, drivers, and solutions. We apply the widely adopted DPSIR (Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response) framework to structure the review. Key takeaways include the following: Existing definitions of FLW are inconsistent and incomplete, significant data gaps remain (by food type, stage of supply chain, and region, especially for developing countries), FLW solutions focus more on proximate causes rather than larger systemic drivers, and effective responses to FLW will require complementary approaches and robust evaluation.