Globally, 40% of food produced is lost or wasted. Prevention is the most important intervention to reduce food loss and waste (FLW) as it has the greatest potential to mitigate the social, economic, and environmental harms. This report identifies sector-specific challenges in preventing food waste and explores the evidence for solutions in the supply chain.

As part of this view, the report highlights how relationships between stakeholders along the supply chain, their relative power, and the various economic incentives they face all impact FLW. In addition to advocating for system changes, sector-specific challenges in preventing FLW at each stage of the supply chain are identified and the evidence base for potential solutions is explored. 

The report assesses the evidence for solutions to FLW across the following areas of the supply chain:

• Production
• Processing and Manufacturing
• Retail and Food Service
• Household

Combining these perspectives, the report highlights that meaningful prevention of FLW likely requires the coordination of both specific and system-wide actions, supported by a data-rich evidence base. 

Recommendations are made under five themes:

• Systems problem, systems solutions 
• Measure and monitor
• Prevent food loss and waste at source 
• Save good food for people
• Capture value from unavoidable food loss and waste