Land footprint and GHG emissions from global food loss

Abstract

BACKGROUND Efficient land use represents a global challenge in the context of high levels of food loss (FL) and waste (FLW) and increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from global agricultural activities. This study aimed to estimate the land footprint (LF) associated with FL worldwide. It also estimated the GHG emissions from crop residues and their burning, and their relationship with food loss for the main crops worldwide. The study analyzed data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) regarding land use, FL, and global GHG emissions from crop residues. RESULTS The findings suggest that the average LF associated with FL worldwide is about 69 million ha per year, and the main food items responsible for most of the LF associated with FL are maize, wheat, and rice. The annual average emissions derived from burning crop residues of FL are 48.8 kilotons year−1 of CH4 and 1.26 kilotons year−1 of N2O, and the emission of N2O derived from crop residues of FL is about 24.1 kilotons year−1, considering the three crops. CONCLUSION Food loss implies high levels of LF and GHG emissions, reinforcing the need for proper public and private initiatives worldwide to reduce FL and waste (FLW). Organizations such as the FAO and the Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development (OECD) should incorporate indicators regarding FLW reduction to evaluate and monitor countries’ performance. An international agreement also needs to be addressed to engage the world's nations in the reduction of FLW levels. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Assessing land, nutrients and monetary value associated with postharvest loss of persimmon in Brazil: pathways toward sustainability in agri-food systems

“…This study utilized specific calculation procedures, using the variables shown in Table 2, to estimate the loss rate, land area and monetary loss resulting from persimmon loss in Brazil between 2014 and 2019. The methodology is similar to previous studies (Abbade, 2020b(Abbade, , 2023, which also utilized data from the FAOSTAT database, including food production, FL (food loss), harvested area and production value, to calculate the loss ratio, land footprint (LF) and economic value loss. Data refer to the area from which persimmons are gathered.…”

Comparison of Carbon Footprint Analysis Methods in Grain Processing—Studies Using Flour Production as an Example

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