Opportunities and Challenges in Conducting Economic Research on Food Loss and Waste

Abstract

Food loss and waste (FLW) issues are receiving heightened attention from local, national, and international governments and nongovernmental organizations. While research in the FLW space is growing rapidly, economists have important contributions to make to the FLW conversation. In this paper we discuss the opportunities and challenges in conducting economic research on FLW. We highlight some of the more technical opportunities and challenges related to data, measurement, and evaluation of FLW reduction initiatives as these are often focal points in the current FLW literature. In addition, we discuss the notion of optimal FLW, which has been mostly absent from the policy discussion to date. Economic analyses can help contribute towards identifying market failures that support the need for FLW interventions, estimating the costs and benefits of FLW interventions, and clearly identifying the winners and losers of potential mandatory requirements to reduce FLW.