| World food loss and waste can cause about USD 750 billion a year in damage. Post-harvest losses estimates in developing countries vary greatly, reaching up to 50% or more. According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 54% of losses and waste occur at the initial stage of production – during post-harvest handling and storage, and 46% during processing, distribution, and consumption. Consumers often dispose of food after buying it because they verify that it does not meet their quality requirements, especially regarding appearance and taste. This is why there must be more research on reducing food loss and waste in the world so as to increase food supply, improve production costs, and reduce environmental impacts. |
