This article aims to identify antecedents of food waste among lower‐middle class families – a paradox, given the financial constraints this population faces. The importance of this research is evident in escalating environmental pressures for better use of our planet's scarce resources. Given that most of the world is low‐income, any behavioral change in this population is likely to have a considerable impact. Empirical data were collected from 14 lower‐middle income Brazilian households, based on observations, in‐depth interviews, photographs and a focus group (n = 6). Five major categories of food waste antecedents were identified: (1) excessive purchasing, (2) over‐preparation, (3) caring for a pet, (4) avoidance of leftovers and (5) inappropriate food conservation. Several subcategories were also found, including impulse buying, lack of planning and preference for large packages. Surprisingly, findings show that strategies used to save money – such as buying groceries in bulk, monthly shopping trips, preference for supermarkets and cooking from scratch – actually end up generating more food waste. This mitigates the savings made during the purchasing phase.

Drawing from previous studies, this review proposes a research agenda in regard to household food waste, a neglected topic within the field of consumer behavior. This phenomenon has remarkable social and environmental relevance when one considers that it occurs at the end of the food chain, and thus, wastage at this stage implies losses of resources required for food production. This study aims to provide a framework and solutions for conducting future research in this area. Academic opportunities identified suggest that further theorizing is needed related to consumer food waste, in addition to studies aimed at testing the impact of communication initiatives on behavioral change and at providing a standardized methodology to measure consumer food waste.

This qualitative study, grounded theory oriented, identifies familial affection and preference for abundance as major drivers of wasted food in lower-middle income American families. These positive intentions provide an improved understanding of household food waste, a problem with high environmental impact and moral implications. Based on empirical data collected with twenty caregivers via in-depth interviews, observations, and analysis of photos, this study provides novel explanations, such as on how stockpiling comfort foods in abundance -a form of both boosting positive self-emotions and showing affection for kids -can promote more wasted food. Other antecedents identified include multiplicity of choices, convenience, procrastination and unplanned routines. In sum, this research identifies a negative outcome of affection and food abundance in the family context, while providing a theoretically relevant general framework to help understand the food waste phenomenon. Authors suggest increasing the awareness of nutritional gatekeepers through behavioral economics principles.

By 2017, Brazil seems to have finally awakened to the problem of food loss and waste. In this article, we resume the topic started in the article "Postharvest losses of perishables in Brazil: what do we know so far?" published earlier this year, but now with an emphasis on food losses and waste (FLW). We divided this article into four sections: (a) search for scientific publications on postharvest losses (PHL) and food waste (FW) in Portuguese; (b) social classes and food consumption in Brazil and household food waste; (c) the national legal framework on FLW; and (d) current food security policies and civil society actions on FLW. Google Scholar searches yielded 46,100 records for FW and 16,100 for PHL, but only 37 and 19 records, respectively, when the searches were restricted to the title of the papers. There is a clear division of subjects: PHL is more related to Agriculture and Economy and FW to Health, Nutrition and the Environment, and reasons and consequences are discussed. Food consumption and waste in Brazil must take into account the great social heterogeneity and high income inequality, as well as some unexpected driving cultural reasons. About 30 bills related to food waste have been discussed in the Brazilian Congress since 1997, with a low expectation of approval in the short term. In the absence of a regulatory framework to reduce losses and facilitate the donation of food, society has found its own way of dealing with the problem. Some initiatives are presented here, along with some governmental food security policies which had positive impacts in reducing FLW, such as National School Feeding Program (PNAE), food banks and popular restaurants. Some international movements are also beginning to gain strength in Brazil, e.g., the purchase of fruits and vegetables outside of aesthetic standards, "SaveFood Brasil", "Slow Food", among others. These are all put in perspective.

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Rev. Adm. Pública -Rio de Janeiro 48(2): 343-366, mar./abr. 2014 O caso do PAC Embrapa: requisitos de uma gestão orientada para resultados no setor público Gustavo Porpino Fundação Getulio Vargas (EAESP/FGV) Emerson De Stefani Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (Embrapa)O artigo analisa os processos de gestão, acompanhamento e controle de resultados adotados pela Embrapa para realizar com efetividade os 10 projetos e 141 metas previstos no Programa de Fortalecimento e Crescimento da Embrapa (PAC Embrapa). A pesquisa qualitativa, baseada em estudo de caso descritivo, aborda a literatura de gestão orientada para resultados (GpR) em junção com a análise do modelo emergente dessa implementação. Ao explicitar e descrever o modelo praticado que se revelou preponderante para o cumprimento das metas e para uma elevada execução orçamentária, o estudo identifica sete requisitos necessários para uma gestão para resultados eficaz em instituições públicas, tais como: meritocracia na formação da equipe gestora, apoio da alta gestão, autonomia e comunicação estratégica. Ao apresentar evidências empíricas dos requisitos para a eficácia da GpR, o estudo oferece subsídios para melhoria da gestão de programas de governo e consequente geração de valor público.Pa l a v r a s -c h a v e : gestão para resultados; setor público; programa de governo; administração pública gerencial.El caso de PAC Embrapa: requisitos para la gestión por resultados en el sector público El artículo analiza los procesos de gestión, supervisión y control de resultados adoptado por Embrapa para realizar con eficacia los 10 proyectos y 141 metas previstas en el Programa de Fortalecimiento y Crecimiento de Embrapa (PAC Embrapa). La investigación cualitativa, basada en el estudio de caso descriptivo, se refiere a la literatura de gestión basada en resultados (GBR) en conjunto con el análisis de modelo emergente de esta implementación. Para explicar y describir el modelo usado que fue vital para el logro de los objetivos y la ejecución de un alto presupuesto, el estudio identifica siete requisitos para una gestión eficaz para obtener resultados en las instituciones públicas, tales como la meritocracia en la formación del equipo directivo, el apoyo de la alta dirección, la autonomía y la comunicación estratégica. Con la presentación de la evidencia empírica de los requisitos para la eficacia de la GBR, The case of PAC Embrapa: requirements for results-based management in the public sector The paper analyzes the processes of management, monitoring and controlling of results adopted by Embrapa to effectively perform the 10 projects and 141 goals in Embrapa's Strengthening and Growth Program (PAC Embrapa). The qualitative approach, based in a descriptive case study strategy, discusses the literature on managing for results (MFR) coupled with the analysis of the model that emerged from this implementation. While presenting and describing the model used, considered vital for achieving objectives and for a high budget execution, the study identifies seven re...

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