Define food waste.

Food waste encompasses the concept of food that is discarded, lost, or uneaten throughout the supply chain, which includes all stages from production to consumption. This definition highlights the various instances where food does not successfully end up being consumed by people, whether it is due to spoilage, overproduction, or other logistical issues that prevent it from reaching consumers.

Understanding food waste in this context is crucial as it allows for the identification of areas in the agricultural and food supply chain where improvements can be made to reduce wastage, thus promoting sustainability and efficiency. The focus on the entire supply chain underscores the systemic nature of food waste, spanning from farms to households, rather than isolating it to a single stage such as storage or processing.