ABSTRACT
Food loss and waste (FLW) is an issue that exists all along the food supply chain (FSC). It is not “just” a consumer problem, there are multiple stakeholders. Producers, processors, distributors, consumers, and policy-makers are all involved, though they apportion differing degrees of importance to it. It is also an issue omnipresent across the globe—though manifesting differently depending upon geographic location and political jurisdiction. While there may be conceptual similarities globally to drivers and routes to reduce the rate of occurrence, the local—“on the ground”—environment cannot be ignored. There are many lenses through which FLW can be viewed—cultural, behavioural, and economic being just a few. Here, we examine FLW and its reduction through the twin lenses of policy and practice, specifically focusing on the United Kingdom (UK) and European Union (EU). We begin with context on the continued existence of food (in)security in Europe, introduce the key stakeholders and actors in FLW discourse, and finally explore how they—and policy—have impacted levels of FLW. That the UK may leave the EU in late 2019 (if at all) presents significant uncertainty over the policy and regulatory environments across the economy and society, not least of which is the agri-food industry. However, whether the UK remains an EU Member State or not, there are positive signs the stakeholders at all levels in the UK and its constituent home nations are serious about addressing this great societal scourge of lost and wasted food.
