Food Waste along the Food Chain in Romania: An Impact Analysis

Abstract

Food waste is a hot topic around the world due to the significant environmental challenge it poses. The study aims to assess the impact of food waste on the food chain at the national level. The data were obtained from quantitative impact studies, carried out in a project funded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Sustainable Development, “Methods to reduce food waste on the agri-food chain, at national level, to prevent and reduce socio-economic impact, until 2030”. A total of 852 companies were interviewed, with a turnover of almost 6.5 billion euro and a number of over 69 thousand employees, including 273 primary production enterprises, 270 food processing units, 171 distribution/retail units, and 138 HoReCa units.

Transitioning to Zero Hunger

“…The study of these aspects can contribute to the development of effective strategies and policies to reduce waste and improve food security not only in Romania, but also globally. (Dumitru et al 2021) Romania is a country with an average level according to several criteria. From an economic point of view, Romania has registered a significant growth in recent decades, but it is still in the process of developing to reach the level of developed countries.…”

“…Efforts to reduce food loss and promote the more efficient management of food resources represent important challenges for the Romanian government and society as a whole. (Dumitru et al 2021) Romania has a strong agricultural tradition and rich natural resources, which makes it dependent on the agricultural sector. A good part of the economy is based on agriculture and food production.…”