scholarly journals Perceptions of Food Waste Reduction in Sri Lanka’s Commercial Capital, Colombo

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 838
Author(s):  
Maren Reitemeier ◽  
Mohamed Aheeyar ◽  
Pay Drechsel

In 2019, Sri Lanka introduced two policies that referred to food waste and the need to reduce it. To understand key stakeholders’ readiness in this context, this study analyzed the food waste perceptions of private and public sectors in Colombo (open markets, supermarkets, hotels, restaurants, canteens, food caterers and key authorities). Interviews were carried out with operational managers and public officials, as well as other stakeholders who have roles in food waste redistribution and reuse, such as NGOs and the livestock sector. So far, the food-waste-related policy recommendations lack an operational inter-institutional home which can build on measures, like standards, regulations and incentives. Thus, most food waste reduction initiatives are initiated by NGOs or by the private sector, e.g., by larger hotels and supermarket chains. These entities were ready to lead by example, based on the understanding that urban food waste is an internal (financial) management challenge. Among smaller local entities, food waste was perceived more as an external issue to be handled by the city’s waste collection services. Although perceptions varied between entities generating smaller or larger quantities of food waste, there was general agreement that suboptimal capacities and mechanisms to quantify, monitor and cost food waste generation appeared to be obstacles for in-depth awareness creation and action. There was significant interest in communication platforms for cross-sectoral learning, win/win collaborations with reliable collection (reuse) services that are currently operational, such as those provided by piggeries, as well as surplus redistribution initiatives if food safety and related liabilities can be addressed effectively.

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 847 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel N. Warshawsky

Food waste has been linked with food insecurity, environmental degradation, and economic inefficiency. Although research on food waste has increased recently, food waste tends to be poorly conceptualized and is often disproportionality focused on local consumer decisions. For this reason, this paper critically analyzes perspectives on food waste in Los Angeles (LA) as a case study in order to understand the structural challenges of food waste governance in cities. To achieve this goal, this study uses content analysis of interview data of key stakeholders in LA’s food system and descriptive statistical analysis of survey data of university undergraduate students in LA. Findings in this paper suggest that students purchase, consume, and waste food in line with broader national trends in the U.S. Additionally, students indicated that the causes and solutions of food waste management lies with more responsible individual decisions and sustainable local food practices. While students noted that they may have acted differently towards food waste reduction if structural opportunities existed, results from the survey reveal that the role of corporations, global food system flows, and the political economy of food production remain relatively unrecognized by students in their perceptions of food waste. Although responsible consumer practices are clearly an important aspect of food waste reduction, findings in this paper suggest that food waste governance may be limited by a narrow local consumer focus.


2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristy Buccieri ◽  
Abram Oudshoorn ◽  
Tyler Frederick ◽  
Rebecca Schiff ◽  
Alex Abramovich ◽  
...  

Purpose People experiencing homelessness are high-users of hospital care in Canada. To better understand the scope of the issue, and how these patients are discharged from hospital, a national survey of key stakeholders was conducted in 2017. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach The Canadian Observatory on Homelessness distributed an online survey to their network of members through e-mail and social media. A sample of 660 stakeholders completed the mixed-methods survey, including those in health care, non-profit, government, law enforcement and academia. Findings Results indicate that hospitals and homelessness sector agencies often struggle to coordinate care. The result is that these patients are usually discharged to the streets or shelters and not into housing or housing with supports. The health care and homelessness sectors in Canada are currently structured in a way that hinders collaborative transfers of patient care. The three primary and inter-related gaps raised by survey participants were: communication, privacy and systems pressures. Research limitations/implications The findings are limited to those who voluntarily completed the survey and may indicate self-selection bias. Results are limited to professional stakeholders and do not reflect patient views. Practical implications Identifying systems gaps from the perspective of those who work within health care and homelessness sectors is important for supporting system reforms. Originality/value This survey was the first to collect nationwide stakeholder data on homelessness and hospital discharge in Canada. The findings help inform policy recommendations for more effective systems alignment within Canada and internationally.


Foods ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 163
Author(s):  
Josemi G. Penalver ◽  
Maite M. Aldaya

In the year 2011, the FAO estimated that food loss and waste reached one third of the total food produced worldwide. Since then, numerous studies have been published characterizing this problem and reflecting on its repercussions, not only social, but also environmental. Food wastage triggers unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation or loss of biodiversity. This study aims to quantify the water-related benefits associated with food loss and waste reduction by studying the Food Bank of Navarra (FBN). For this purpose, the water footprint assessment manual has been followed. First, the water footprint of the activities of the FBN has been analysed for the year 2018 (scenario with the FBN). A comparative analysis has been carried out between the scenario with the FBN and a theoretical scenario without the action of the FBN. This has allowed us to highlight the benefits associated with the activity of this entity. The FBN not only avoided the waste of 2.7 thousand tons of food suitable for consumption in 2018, but also avoided the unnecessary use of more than 3.2 million m3 of freshwater. As a result of the present investigation, it can be stated that promoting food banks, which avoid food waste, would be an effective way to contribute to the protection and conservation of water resources.


2020 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-168
Author(s):  
Yaghoob Jafari ◽  
Hasan Dudu ◽  
Roberto Roson ◽  
Martina Sartori

In recent years, reducing food waste and loss has become a policy priority in the European Union, but little is known about impacts of related measures in the EU and beyond. This study informs the debate on food waste reduction through a quantitative analysis. It considers adjustment costs for reducing food waste in food processing industries and impacts on food availability, pressure on land and water and other environmental consequences. The results suggest that the leakage effects of global trade may offset almost all benefits of food waste reduction in the EU. We thus conclude that costly efforts to reduce food waste in the EU cannot be motivated by larger contributions to global food availability and environmental benefits. This highlights the need for global coordination of such policies and/or more targeted actions in the EU which focus on specific production chains, where losses can be reduced and environmental gains obtained at a relatively low cost.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1954 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-102

Having surveyed the health services for children throughout the nation during the postwar years and having given attention to ways of meeting the needs which were revealed, the Academy, through its Committee for the Improvement of Child Health, called attention to the importance of further development of regional planning for pediatric education and services. This Committee in a report published in 1950 stated: To meet this two-fold need [better training for physicians and better distribution of services], a solution is evolving which has as its keystone regional planning for the decentralization of training which carries with it a better distribution of medical care into the very areas where the greatest deficiencies have been shown to exist. This concept is not new or original. It has been receiving a great deal of emphasis particularly in relation to hospitals and to a lesser degree in relation to medical schools. Evidence of progress along lines recommended by the Academy in its 1950 report is again apparent. Early in October 1953 a group of 100 educators, doctors and public officials met under the auspices of the Massachusetts Medical-Dental School Commission to explore the possibilities of regional cooperation in medicine, dentistry and veterinary practice. Emphasis was placed upon a program that would cooperate with existing private and public institutions rather than compete with them.


2015 ◽  
pp. 1246-1270
Author(s):  
Hansdeep Singh ◽  
Jaspreet Singh ◽  
Marjory D. Fields

Fiji is a very interesting case for studying the bridges between private and public spheres and social and cultural background. Despite its idyllic setting and concentration of resources, Fiji has one of the highest rates of violence against women, outside of conflict zones, in the world. The state, legal system, and society have simply failed to protect the women against different forms of violence and discrimination. The lack of parliamentary democratic process certainly has contributed to the deplorable situation. After analyzing the roots of the problem, the authors introduce comprehensive policy recommendations to help rectify the situation. The problems in Fiji are rather extreme, and there is a lot to learn for everyone about the weakness of state and institutions to perform some of their most fundamental functions.


Author(s):  
Bryan Acheampong ◽  
Ibrahim Bedi

While there has been some considerable investment in information systems implementation and usage in the public sector, success has often been limited. Attempts by researchers to address this situation has been diverse and often inconclusive. A publication by the MIS Quarterly journal offers some direction. The study, which focused on information systems development (ISD), highlighted the need to explore how mutual understanding among key stakeholders is created, or the extent to which they have a shared conception of the ISD project, and further how such mutual understanding is changing, develops, or deteriorates over time. On the tenets of the study, this chapter attempts to chart a path for future research in interoperable financial management systems implementation and usage in the public sector. It presents a viewpoint that establishes the need to explore the creation and sustenance of mutual understanding between stakeholders in the implementation and usage of interoperable or integrated financial management systems in the public sector.


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