THE IMPACT OF FOOD WASTE AND WAYS TO MINIMIZE IT

Abstract

The article addresses the issue of food waste, which presents a global problem that has recently become even more important on the public and political agenda. The importance of this topic will continue to grow, especially given the need to feed a growing world population. At the same time, in the pandemic conditions created by Covid-19, it presents a major challenge at the international level, both from a health and social point of view, enormously affecting the economies and all industrial sectors, including agriculture, food production, and especially food consumption and food waste. Food is a precious commodity, and its production can require significant resources. Current estimations indicate that around one third of food produced worldwide for human consumption is wasted or lost, which generates significant economic and environmental costs. Food waste is a problem that occurs throughout the food chain and therefore measures should target all its components, with potential benefits for all parties involved. Although there are a number of EU policies that can help combat food waste, this potential is not being made the most of and the opportunities offered have not yet been exploited.