Challenges and initiatives in reducing food losses and waste: Latin America and the Caribbean

Publication date: 23/03/2020
Extent: 16 pages

Contributions by: Laura Brenes-Peralta and María Fernanda Jiménez-Morales, Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Costa Rica; Murillo Freire Junior, Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA), Brazil; Walter Belik, Universidad Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Brazil; Natalia Basso, Ministry of Agriculture Livestock and Fisheries, Argentina; Gustavo Polenta, Centro de Investigación de Agroindustria del Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Argentina; Catalina Giraldo, Cadenas de Valor Sustentables SpA (Sustainable Value Chains), Chile; and Sara Granados, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Chile

Chapter synopsis: The Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Region is heterogenous in terms of socio-economic conditions and production systems, and is responsible for a significant amount of global food supplies. There is significant interest in addressing food loss and waste (FLW) as part of the region’s strategy to eradicate hunger and poverty, and promote food security and nutrition. This chapter reviews the development of a regional strategy to reduce FLW. It also includes case studies on initiatives to reduce FLW in Brazil, Chile and Costa Rica. The chapter concludes by assessing ongoing challenges and future trends in reducing FLW in the region.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2019.0053.33