New Challenges and Approaches to Quantitative and Qualitative Assess Food Losses and Waste Prevention and Reduction along the Supply Chain

Dear Colleagues,

During the last decade, the debate on food losses and waste (FLW) has attracted a growing attention from the academic world, society, and policy makers, as its important social, environmental, nutritional, and economic implications have become clearer. However, despite some convergence processes, there is still a lack of a greater consensus on what the most effective measures to prevent and reduce FLW are. This is partially caused by a lack of consensus over its definition and scope boundaries, its causes and potential solutions, as well as over its quantification along the food supply chain. Making available more accurate FWL data is a key factor to making the food waste management and prevention policies that are emerging worldwide better planned and more effective. In this context, there is a greater need for quantification and analysis of policy interventions. However, quantitative assessment only provides a partial picture of the problem, and we also need qualitative assessments, not only to understand why FLW happens but also how we are able to modify stakeholders’ food waste behavior.

This Special Issue comprises papers addressing the assessment of any prevention or reduction intervention at any stage of the food supply chain. Of interest to this Special Issue are both quantitative and qualitative assessments that provide insights into how to achieve SDG 12.3. Researchers as well as policy bodies should find the topics of this Special Issue particularly appealing.

Prof. Dr. José M. Gil
Dr. Raquel Diaz-Ruiz
Guest Editors

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• food losses and waste
• quantification
• qualitative research
• behavior
• prevention
• effectiveness
• supply chain