Decreasing Food Waste Through Advances in Cold Chain Management

4 Min Read By Carl Wasinger

Globally, one third of the food produced for human consumption is wasted. Not only is this a loss of valuable resources, it’s also an affront to the 815 million people around the world who suffer from malnutrition. So, how can we both solve the food waste issue and ensure better food availability? 

Waste can occur anywhere along the food supply chain, which includes production, processing, distribution, and consumption. The food waste equation incorporates all these stages to address and curb waste along each step. 

Thankfully, manufacturers are making gains in targeting waste during the distribution stage of the supply chain. Approximately 14 percent of all food is wasted between harvest and distribution, but recent advances in cold-chain management could bring this figure down significantly. 

The cold chain is a variation on typical supply chains, but it refers to the movement of perishable goods—food and beverages, chemicals, vaccines, etc.—that need to be refrigerated…