Themes, Trends and Ideas to Emerge from UPENN’s “The Last Food Mile” Conference, December 8-9, 2014
On December 8-9, 2014, the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine convened a group of agronomists, lawyers, academics, farmers, economists, gleaners, psychologists, entrepreneurs, gardeners, scientists, composters, restaurateurs, chefs, grocery retailers, food industry representatives, faith-based organizations and anti-hunger advocates to discuss the growing issue of lost or wasted food, a $161 billion burden on the United States[1] and an even greater problem on a global scale.
Two Food Policy Center staff members, Ashley Rafalow and Jan Poppendieck, attended and here they highlight some of the key themes, trends and ideas to emerge from this two-day conference .The goal is to spur discussion on how New York City can build upon its efforts to feed the hungry, minimize food waste and divert solid waste from landfills. The presentations and resources from this conference are available here.
Size of the food waste phenomenon
Globally: The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that 1.3 billion tons of food are lost or wasted each year.[1] At the same time, we are far from reaching the goal of the 1996 World Food Summit to reduce the number of people suffering from malnutrition, and that is without an anticipated population bump to 9.2 billion people by 2050.[2]
Nationally: The estimated total value of food loss in the United States is approximately $161.6 billion.[3] In 2010, 31% of the available food supply was lost- 10% at the retail level, 21% at the consumer level.[4]
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[1] Buzby J, Hoden JW, Hyman J. USDA. The Estimated Amount, Value, and Calories of Postharvest Food Losses at the Retail and Consumer Levels in the United States.
[2] FAO. 2011. Global food losses and food waste – Extent, causes and prevention. Rome.
[3] Ekwall. UN Food and Agriculture Organization “Food Loss and Food Waste.” 8 December 2014.
[4] Buzby J, Hoden JW, Hyman J. USDA. The Estimated Amount, Value, and Calories of Postharvest Food Losses at the Retail and Consumer Levels in the United States.
[5] Ekwall, Barbara. UN Food and Agriculture Organization “Food Loss and Food Waste.” 8 December 2014.
[6] Buzby J, Hoden JW, Hyman J. USDA. The Estimated Amount, Value, and Calories of Postharvest Food Losses at the Retail and Consumer Levels in the United States.