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A Novel Composite Index for the Development of Decentralized Food Production, Food Loss, and Waste Management Policies: A Water-Climate-Food Nexus Approach

Author

Listed:
  • Daniel Hoehn

    (Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Cantabria, 39005 Santander, Spain)

  • María Margallo

    (Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Cantabria, 39005 Santander, Spain)

  • Jara Laso

    (Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Cantabria, 39005 Santander, Spain)

  • Israel Ruiz-Salmón

    (Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Cantabria, 39005 Santander, Spain)

  • Laura Batlle-Bayer

    (UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change, Escola Superior de Comerç Interntional (ESCI), Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08003 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Alba Bala

    (UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change, Escola Superior de Comerç Interntional (ESCI), Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08003 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Pere Fullana-i-Palmer

    (UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change, Escola Superior de Comerç Interntional (ESCI), Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08003 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Rubén Aldaco

    (Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Cantabria, 39005 Santander, Spain)

Abstract

The United Nations has adopted 17 sustainable development goals for 2030 with environmental sustainability being one of the main pillars. A key point to address this pillar is the proper management of waste generation. Within the broad spectrum of waste types, food loss and waste is produced worldwide in large quantities. In this framework, the development of composite indexes is recommended to measure the level of compliance of any context with Sustainable Development Goals. This work presents a novel composite index for food loss and waste generation and management systems, the so-called sustainable development goals-food (SDG-Food) index, aiming to determine the level of compliance of any concrete national, regional, or local context regarding five different sustainable development goals with a water-climate-food nexus thinking. The pilot case study of Spain is presented by analyzing the environmental performance between 2015 and 2040 in a context of (i) compliance and (ii) non-compliance with the Paris Agreement targets. Additionally, four different diets are assessed. Results suggested a numerical index score of 13.79, highlighting the categories of eggs, cereals, meat, and vegetables, and the stages of agricultural production and consumption, as the furthers ones for compliance with the five SDG assessed. Moreover, the scenario of compliance with the Paris agreement targets presented better values for all stages, and a vegan diet was highlighted as the one with the best index score.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel Hoehn & María Margallo & Jara Laso & Israel Ruiz-Salmón & Laura Batlle-Bayer & Alba Bala & Pere Fullana-i-Palmer & Rubén Aldaco, 2021. "A Novel Composite Index for the Development of Decentralized Food Production, Food Loss, and Waste Management Policies: A Water-Climate-Food Nexus Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-14, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:5:p:2839-:d:511542
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kroll, Christian & Zipperer, Vera, 2020. "Sustainable Development and Populism," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    2. Daniel Hoehn & María Margallo & Jara Laso & Isabel García-Herrero & Alba Bala & Pere Fullana-i-Palmer & Angel Irabien & Rubén Aldaco, 2019. "Energy Embedded in Food Loss Management and in the Production of Uneaten Food: Seeking a Sustainable Pathway," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-19, February.
    3. Garcia-Herrero, I. & Hoehn, D. & Margallo, M. & Laso, J. & Bala, A. & Batlle-Bayer, L. & Fullana, P. & Vazquez-Rowe, I. & Gonzalez, M.J. & Durá, M.J. & Sarabia, C. & Abajas, R. & Amo-Setien, F.J. & Qu, 2018. "On the estimation of potential food waste reduction to support sustainable production and consumption policies," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 24-38.
    4. Kynčlová, Petra & Upadhyaya, Shyam & Nice, Thomas, 2020. "Composite index as a measure on achieving Sustainable Development Goal 9 (SDG-9) industry-related targets: The SDG-9 index," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 265(C).
    5. Leonardo S. Alaimo & Filomena Maggino, 2020. "Sustainable Development Goals Indicators at Territorial Level: Conceptual and Methodological Issues—The Italian Perspective," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 147(2), pages 383-419, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Muñoz-Torres, María Jesús & Ferrero-Ferrero, Idoya & Gisbert- Navarro, José Vicente & Rivera-Lirio, Juana María, 2025. "Environmental Assessment of Food Loss and Waste Prevention and Reduction Solutions: Navegating the Complexity of Integrating Stakeholders’ Decisions," MPRA Paper 123335, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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