The solitary purpose of this report is to begin a dialogue on considering quality systems thinking to improve food security in sustainable food systems. For people to be hungry at a time when we waste food demonstrates that opportunity.
System thinking offers insights in how to define, analyse, and consider solutions. Waste in a Food Security context is much broader than what ends in landfill. By considering food as an operation including raw materials, conversion, inventory and transport, analysis can be targeted with useful comparison to the quality paradigm. In terms of opportunity to improve, a majority of the waste is anticipated to be in first world. Third world though would also benefit in that the ideas are transferable.
Food security is defined by access, availability ,utilisation and reliability. Each criterion has specific waste impacts that must be addressed. Impacts due to soil degradation, water scarcity, arable land availability are seen as areas for system improvement and need a separate discussion. The vision of the report is to offer a framework to engage the public in saving food.
[see detailed comments in the attachment, Ed.]
James Rohan