Description

A considerable amount of food is produced and wasted, resulting in significant unnecessary greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. According to the estimations, 8%-10% of GHG emission derives from food waste at global level. One of the main reasons of this 1.3 billion tonnes food waste and loss is unaddressed supply chains. The goal is to improve the efficiency of supply chains.

The problems of food waste and short supply chains are relevant for citizens, retailers, farmers, hypermarkets, etc. Thus, awareness-raising and innovative solutions are important equally. Cities can provide physical and virtual space and infrastructure for supporting local supply chain.

In order to promote environmentally and socially sustainable production and consumption, it is recommended to prefer local producers. In addition, small-scale trade and better logistics can be the key elements of development, as shorter transport distances also mean lower GHG emission. Beyond the environmental aspects, short supply chains build trust between the producers and the consumers, represent a higher added value, support local communities and more beneficial for small farms and producers from financial point of view, too. To change our mindset and behaviour, we should focus on healthy eating and lifestyle, preferring local and seasonal products.