Reduced Food Waste
Reduced Food Waste
Waste Not, Warm Not: Cutting Emissions by Curtailing Wasted Food
Humans throw out one third of the food we produce — and with it, a huge share of our emissions budget. From farm to fridge to landfill, uneaten food is responsible for up to 10% of global greenhouse gases, or five times the emissions of the entire aviation sector. It also squanders land, water, energy, and labor. And as food demand rises, so will the climate cost of waste. The central challenge: in many parts of today’s food system, it’s cheaper to waste food than to save it — which means we need new approaches that also make economic sense. Preventing spoilage and improving logistics must become more profitable than overproducing. Smarter harvesting, advanced preservation technologies, and circular systems that turn waste into value will all be part of the solution. On the journey to a net-zero world, cutting food waste is low-hanging fruit.
Emissions at stake in 2050: 2.2 Gigatons
Innovation Imperatives
Innovation Imperatives
Critical needs that can help accelerate the path to net zero
Circularity
Reuse food, either for new human food or animal feed
Emerging technologies such as thermal processing, fungal fermentation, and insect conversion can upcycle waste streams into safe, nutritious products for humans or animals. Scaling circular solutions can transform waste into value, reducing the environmental footprint of food production while closing critical loops in the food system.
Zero Emissions Landfills
Develop technology to prevent methane emissions from landfills
When organic matter like food waste is buried in landfills, it decomposes without oxygen, releasing vast quantities of methane. This imperative focuses on deploying technologies that intercept these emissions at the source. This requires innovating more efficient gas capture systems for new and existing landfills, as well as developing advanced oxidation or biocover technologies that destroy methane before it can escape. Because landfills are such a high-concentration source, this is one of the most immediate and cost-effective climate actions available.
Zero Spoilage Food Systems
Innovate new ways to reduce food spoilage
Food spoilage is a major driver of global food waste. Advances in gene editing, protective surface coatings, and cold chain technology are opening new pathways to keep food fresh longer and reduce losses throughout the supply chain. Accelerating these innovations could significantly cut waste, lower costs, and boost the efficiency and resilience of food systems.
Tech Categories
Tech Categories
Groupings of climate technologies
| Cluster Name | Readiness | |
|---|---|---|
| Circularity | Commercial | |
Circularity reduces emissions by repurposing food waste into animal feed, compost, or bioenergy instead of sending it to landfills. | ||
| Harvest | Commercial | |
Improved techniques and equipment can prevent food spoilage or damage in the field. Efficient harvesting reduces emissions by ensuring that more of the food that’s grown is actually consumed. | ||
| Lifespan | Commercial | |
Lifespan is extended through improved packaging, preservation methods like edible seals, and smart labeling. These innovations help prevent premature spoilage and unnecessary waste. | ||
| Supply Chain | Commercial | |
Supply chain technologies enable better storage, transport, and processing to prevent spoilage and inefficiencies between farm and consumer. Refrigerated supply chain improvements, smarter logistics, and real-time data tracking help to cut emissions by reducing food loss en route to markets. |
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