IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/endesu/v26y2024i4d10.1007_s10668-023-03132-0.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The status of the global food waste mitigation policies: experience and inspiration for China

Author

Listed:
  • Guohui Shen

    (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs)

  • Ziqi Li

    (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs)

  • Tiannuo Hong

    (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs)

  • Xin Ru

    (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs)

  • Kunzhen Wang

    (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs)

  • Yanting Gu

    (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs)

  • Juan Han

    (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs)

  • Yanzhi Guo

    (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs
    Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences)

Abstract

Food waste has become a significant challenge faced by the community with a shared future for mankind, and it has also caused a considerable impact on China's food security. Scholars across disciplines, international organizations, and especially policymakers are increasingly interested in food waste. Policies are seen as a powerful factor in reducing food waste, but current research on related policies is more scattered. This paper summarizes and analyzes the experiences of food waste policy development and implementation by systematically reviewing the studies on food waste reduction policies. The results of this paper's analysis show that current global food waste policies are focused at the national strategic level, with approaches such as legislation, food donation, waste recycling, awareness and education, and data collection. At the same time, we find that the current experience of developed countries in policy formulation and implementation is beneficial for policy formulation in developing countries. And taking China as an example, we believe that developing countries can improve food waste policies in the future by improving legislation, guiding the development of food banks, promoting social governance, and strengthening scientific research projects. These policies will all contribute strongly to global environmental friendliness. In addition, we discuss some of the factors that influence the development of food waste policies and argue that in the future, more consideration needs to be given to the effects of policy implementation and that case studies should focus more on developing countries. This will contribute to the global sustainable development process.

Suggested Citation

  • Guohui Shen & Ziqi Li & Tiannuo Hong & Xin Ru & Kunzhen Wang & Yanting Gu & Juan Han & Yanzhi Guo, 2024. "The status of the global food waste mitigation policies: experience and inspiration for China," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(4), pages 8329-8357, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:26:y:2024:i:4:d:10.1007_s10668-023-03132-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-023-03132-0
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10668-023-03132-0
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10668-023-03132-0?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Rosalinda Nicastro & Petronia Carillo, 2021. "Food Loss and Waste Prevention Strategies from Farm to Fork," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-23, May.
    2. Thyberg, Krista L. & Tonjes, David J., 2016. "Drivers of food waste and their implications for sustainable policy development," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 110-123.
    3. Carter Weis & Anjali Narang & Bradley Rickard & Diogo M. Souza-Monteiro, 2021. "Effects of Date Labels and Freshness Indicators on Food Waste Patterns in the United States and the United Kingdom," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-15, July.
    4. Min, Shi & Wang, Xiaobing & Yu, Xiaohua, 2021. "Does dietary knowledge affect household food waste in the developing economy of China?," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    5. Garnett, Tara, 2011. "Where are the best opportunities for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the food system (including the food chain)?," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(S1), pages 23-32.
    6. Stephen F Hamilton & Timothy J Richards, 2019. "Food Policy and Household Food Waste," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 101(2), pages 600-614.
    7. Shobande, Olatunji A. & Asongu, Simplice A., 2022. "The Critical Role of Education and ICT in Promoting Environmental Sustainability in Eastern and Southern Africa: A Panel VAR Approach," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    8. Jafari, Yaghoob & Britz, Wolfgang & Hasan, Dudu & Roson, Roberto & Sartori, Martina, 2020. "Can Food Waste Reduction in Europe Help to Increase Food Availability and Reduce Pressure on Natural Resources Globally?," German Journal of Agricultural Economics, Humboldt-Universitaet zu Berlin, Department for Agricultural Economics, vol. 69(2), May.
    9. Xu, Zhigang & Zhang, Zongli & Liu, Haiyan & Zhong, Funing & Bai, Junfei & Cheng, Shengkui, 2020. "Food-away-from-home plate waste in China: Preference for variety and quantity," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    10. 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.
    11. Lopez Barrera, Emiliano & Hertel, Thomas, 2021. "Global food waste across the income spectrum: Implications for food prices, production and resource use," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    12. Lesia Kinach & Kate Parizeau & Evan D. G. Fraser, 2020. "Do food donation tax credits for farmers address food loss/waste and food insecurity? A case study from Ontario," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 37(2), pages 383-396, June.
    13. Fabi, Carola & Cachia, Franck & Conforti, Piero & English, Alicia & Rosero Moncayo, José, 2021. "Improving data on food losses and waste: From theory to practice," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    14. Qi, Danyi & Lai, Wangyang & Roe, Brian E., 2021. "Food waste declined more in rural Chinese households with livestock," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    15. Capodistrias, Paula & Szulecka, Julia & Corciolani, Matteo & Strøm-Andersen, Nhat, 2022. "European food banks and COVID-19: Resilience and innovation in times of crisis," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 82(PA).
    16. Pilar L. González-Torre & Jorge Coque, 2016. "From Food Waste to Donations: The Case of Marketplaces in Northern Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(6), pages 1-21, June.
    17. Tang, Chang & Irfan, Muhammad & Razzaq, Asif & Dagar, Vishal, 2022. "Natural resources and financial development: Role of business regulations in testing the resource-curse hypothesis in ASEAN countries," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    18. Ellen Fogarty & Beverley Clarke & Kirstin E. Ross, 2021. "Investigating Food Waste Recycling in Local Food Service Businesses: A Case Study from a Local Government Area in Australia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-12, December.
    19. Busetti, Simone, 2019. "A theory-based evaluation of food waste policy: Evidence from Italy," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    20. Garnett, Tara, 2011. "Where are the best opportunities for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the food system (including the food chain)?," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(Supplemen), pages 23-32, January.
    21. Cattaneo, Andrea & Federighi, Giovanni & Vaz, Sara, 2021. "The environmental impact of reducing food loss and waste: A critical assessment," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    22. Aniruddha Sarker & Mithun Kumar Ghosh & Tofazzal Islam & Muhammad Bilal & Rakhi Nandi & Md Lamiur Raihan & Mohammad Nabil Hossain & Juwel Rana & Subrato Kumar Barman & Jang-Eok Kim, 2022. "Sustainable Food Waste Recycling for the Circular Economy in Developing Countries, with Special Reference to Bangladesh," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-18, September.
    23. Beatrice Garske & Katharine Heyl & Felix Ekardt & Lea Moana Weber & Wiktoria Gradzka, 2020. "Challenges of Food Waste Governance: An Assessment of European Legislation on Food Waste and Recommendations for Improvement by Economic Instruments," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-23, July.
    24. Tamar Makov & Alon Shepon & Jonathan Krones & Clare Gupta & Marian Chertow, 2020. "Social and environmental analysis of food waste abatement via the peer-to-peer sharing economy," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-8, December.
    25. Y. Feng & C. Marek & J. Tosun, 2022. "Fighting Food Waste by Law: Making Sense of the Chinese Approach," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 45(3), pages 457-479, September.
    26. Secondi, Luca & Principato, Ludovica & Laureti, Tiziana, 2015. "Household food waste behaviour in EU-27 countries: A multilevel analysis," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 25-40.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Long Qian & Feng Li & Xia Zhao & Hongbo Liu & Xiaojie Liu, 2022. "The Association between Religious Beliefs and Food Waste: Evidence from Chinese Rural Households," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-15, July.
    2. Min, Shi & Wang, Xiaobing & Yu, Xiaohua, 2021. "Does dietary knowledge affect household food waste in the developing economy of China?," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    3. Jian Li & Wuyang Hu & Ping Qing & Jean‐Paul Chavas, 2024. "On household food stock and waste under risk," Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics/Revue canadienne d'agroeconomie, Canadian Agricultural Economics Society/Societe canadienne d'agroeconomie, vol. 72(1), pages 23-44, March.
    4. Yi Luo & Dong Huang & Fangfang Cao, 2022. "The Impact of Family Members Serving as Village Cadres on Rural Household Food Waste: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-14, February.
    5. Anna Sylwia Tarczyńska & Ewa Malinowska & Andrzej Urbanowicz, 2023. "Attitudes and Behaviours of Young Consumers towards Wasting Food: Case Study Based on Polish Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-18, February.
    6. Danilo Bertoni & Daniele Cavicchioli & Franco Donzelli & Giovanni Ferrazzi & Dario G. Frisio & Roberto Pretolani & Elena Claire Ricci & Vera Ventura, 2018. "Recent Contributions of Agricultural Economics Research in the Field of Sustainable Development," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 8(12), pages 1-20, December.
    7. Lingfei Wang & Yuqin Yang & Guoyan Wang, 2022. "The Clean Your Plate Campaign: Resisting Table Food Waste in an Unstable World," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-17, April.
    8. Li Jia & Guanghua Qiao, 2022. "Quantification, Environmental Impact, and Behavior Management: A Bibliometric Analysis and Review of Global Food Waste Research Based on CiteSpace," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-24, September.
    9. Chai, Duo & Yu, Shujin & Meng, Ting, 2024. "Do moral constraints and government interventions promote the willingness and behaviors of food saving among urban residents in China? An empirical study based on structural equation model," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    10. Luo, Na & Olsen, Tava & Liu, Yanping & Zhang, Abraham, 2022. "Reducing food loss and waste in supply chain operations," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    11. Efrat Elimelech & Eyal Ert & Ofira Ayalon, 2019. "Exploring the Drivers behind Self-Reported and Measured Food Wastage," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-19, October.
    12. Eriksson, Mattias & Ghosh, Ranjan & Mattsson, Lisa & Ismatov, Alisher, 2017. "Take-back agreements in the perspective of food waste generation at the supplier-retailer interface," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 83-93.
    13. Michael Martin & Lina Danielsson, 2016. "Environmental Implications of Dynamic Policies on Food Consumption and Waste Handling in the European Union," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(3), pages 1-15, March.
    14. Effie Papargyropoulou & Julia K. Steinberger & Nigel Wright & Rodrigo Lozano & Rory Padfield & Zaini Ujang, 2019. "Patterns and Causes of Food Waste in the Hospitality and Food Service Sector: Food Waste Prevention Insights from Malaysia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-21, October.
    15. Y. Feng & C. Marek & J. Tosun, 2022. "Fighting Food Waste by Law: Making Sense of the Chinese Approach," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 45(3), pages 457-479, September.
    16. Yue, Shen & Munir, Irfan Ullah & Hyder, Shabir & Nassani, Abdelmohsen A. & Qazi Abro, Muhammad Moinuddin & Zaman, Khalid, 2020. "Sustainable food production, forest biodiversity and mineral pricing: Interconnected global issues," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    17. Pilar Campoy-Muñoz & Manuel Alejandro Cardenete & María del Carmen Delgado & Ferran Sancho, 2021. "Food Losses and Waste: A Needed Assessment for Future Policies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-11, November.
    18. 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.
    19. Aino Friman & Nina Hyytiä, 2022. "The Economic and Welfare Effects of Food Waste Reduction on a Food-Production-Driven Rural Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-18, March.
    20. Dimitrie Stoica & Angela-Eliza Micu & Maricica Stoica, 2022. "The Impact of Economic Drivers on Food Loss Management," Ovidius University Annals, Economic Sciences Series, Ovidius University of Constantza, Faculty of Economic Sciences, vol. 0(1), pages 753-761, September.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:26:y:2024:i:4:d:10.1007_s10668-023-03132-0. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.