Determinants of reduction of food loss and waste in Indian agri-food supply chains for ensuring food security: A multi-stakeholder perspective

Abstract

With a rising population and increasing concern for food security, food loss and waste (FLW) has become a critical challenge to global sustainability. This paper, drawing on multi-stakeholder theory, aims to empirically identify the key determinants influencing the reduction of FLW in Indian agri-food supply chains (AFSCs) for ensuring food security. A structured questionnaire was used to collect responses from the various stakeholders of the AFSC and then the exploratory factor analysis technique was used to summarize the items into underlying determinants of reduction of FLW in Indian AFSC for ensuring food security. The results of this study reveal that (1) government support, (2) supply chain partnerships, (3) technological support, (4) consumer attitude and (5) top management commitment are the key determinants in the given context. All the stakeholders of AFSC must be aware of these key determinants affecting the reduction of FLW. They must work collaboratively to make a difference by preventing and managing FLW as it is everyone’s responsibility to work towards food security.

Reducing food loss through sustainable business models and agricultural innovation systems

“…Challenges include long-distance transportations in a variety of climatic conditions, need for more affordable temperature and humidity-controlled logistics, replacing open-air dumping or impoverished storage infrastructure with affordable and replicable cold chain infrastructure for vegetables and greens. This is alarming for a country which is the second-largest global producer of fresh agri-food (Sagi and Gokarn, 2022;Mohan et al, 2023). However, very little research has been produced on preventing or reducing food loss and value loss across the supply chain in developing countries with thriving agrarian production, but with institutional and infrastructural complexities that are different from more industrialised countries (Dora et al, 2020).…”

“…Firstly, in line with previous studies (Srai et al, 2021), we see that the business models used by the actors for food loss reduction in the Indian fresh food AIS are fragmented. Despite government investments in FPOs and digital initiatives, varying, competing or conflicting policies make different actors pursue different scopes of food value loss (Srai et al, 2021;Sagi and Gokarn, 2022). For instance, while farmers are more concerned with minimising production value losses, the FPO business model captures the institutional value of food through livelihood, food security and other broader sustainabilitydriven initiatives.…”

“…Challenges include long-distance transportations in a variety of climatic conditions, need for more affordable temperature and humidity-controlled logistics, replacing open-air dumping or impoverished storage infrastructure with affordable and replicable cold chain infrastructure for vegetables and greens. This is alarming for a country which is the second-largest global producer of fresh agri-food (Sagi and Gokarn, 2022; Mohan et al. , 2023).…”

Opportunities and Challenges of Business 5.0 in Emerging Markets

“…In SCM network, industry 5.0 requires a determined leadership style, clear strategic vision, participation of top management as well as the influence of internal organization partners, such as interdisciplinary offices and representatives from all progressive levels of the organization, cross-functional collaboration, new skills development and training (Nimawat & Gidwani, 2021) To bring about change in an industry, both employees and top management can help to develop awareness and sufficient knowledge about the importance of implementing the system. It requires a commitment to impart Industry 5.0 relevant training to employees, including awareness of Industry 5.0, and conducting food loss prevention and waste prevention programs before food items reach consumers etc (Sagi & Gokarn, 2022).…”