Circular Economy for Food Loss Reduction and Water Footprint

Abstract

Food loss is a global problem with significant social, economic, and ecological impacts. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), a third of the food produced globally is lost or wasted along the food supply chain (FSC). Food requires water for its production. This water consumption can be measured under the WF indicator's Water Footprint (WF). This indicator makes it possible to measure fresh water's direct and indirect use throughout the food supply chain. Estimates of the water footprint of crop production range between 5,938 and 8,508 km3/year. The greater the loss or waste of food, the greater the water consumption. Therefore, applying strategies related to the circular economy is an alternative solution. This chapter provides the relationship between food loss and the water footprint to provide alternative solutions under the circular economy model.