What causes food waste?

Food waste is a global issue that is a large sector of climate change as a whole. Especially in developing countries and minority groups, food waste can make places inhabitable. Here are only a few examples of causes of this major issue:

1) Overproduction and Inefficiencies in Supply Chain:

Inadequate planning has the risk of leading to excessive production, leading to a large surplus that goes to waste. Food spoilage and problems with transportation also can be classified as food wastage.

2) Consumer Habits:

Overbuying, and improper storage are all examples of the wrongdoing on the consumer side of the problem. The perception of food and its effect on consumers also plays a big role in the waste that is created. Instead of basing food off of the expiration date, people often base their food off of appearance.

3) Lack of Resources:

Insufficient resources, especially in developing countries, avoid proper storage, processing, and distribution of food. This overall leads to higher levels of food waste.

By understanding the major causes of food waste, we can begin to fight this increasingly deadly issue.