Sustainable Social Entrepreneurship: Serving the Destitute, Feeding the Hungry, and Reducing the Food Waste

Abstract

This chapter discusses how innovative social entrepreneurs are changing the world by serving the destitute, feeding the hungry, and reducing the food waste footprint. A social entrepreneur is one who brings about a positive change in the society by implementing innovative ideas to fulfill vital social needs. After introducing the concept of Social Entrepreneurship, this chapter will chronicle exemplary mini vignettes/studies regarding innovative social entrepreneurs who are serving the destitute and sustaining the planet in innovative ways. While most of us only dream about changing the world in a positive manner, there are people who are already busy doing so. In recent years, global food waste has emerged as a far-reaching problem, with tremendous financial, ethical, and environmental costs. The food system is the largest user of natural resources and emitter of greenhouse gases. Despite using 34% of the land, consuming 69% of the water, and being the main cause of deforestation and loss of habitat, one-third of food produced globally is wasted; that is, 1.3 billion tons of food that is never eaten. When food waste decomposes in a landfill without oxygen, it produces a large amount of methane, which is approximately 20 times more harmful to the atmosphere than carbon dioxide. After discussing the horror of the negative impact of food waste on the environment, the chapter presents what strategies conscious social entrepreneurs have devised to combat this pervasive issue of global food waste.