Estimating the magnitude of food waste generated in South Africa

Abstract

Throughout the developed world, food is treated as a disposable commodity. Between one third and half of all food produced for human consumption globally is estimated to be wasted. However, attempts to quantify the actual magnitude of food wasted globally are constrained by limited data, particularly from developing countries. This paper attempts to quantify total food waste generation (including both pre-consumer food losses and post-consumer food waste) in South Africa. The estimates are based on available food supply data for South Africa and on estimates of average food waste generation at each step of the food supply chain for sub-Saharan Africa as reported in Gustavsson et al. (2011). The preliminary estimate of the magnitude of food loss and food waste generation in South Africa is in the order of 9.04 million tonnes per annum. On a per capita basis, overall food loss in South Africa in 2007 is estimated at 177 kg/capita/annum and consumption waste at 7 kg/capita/annum. However, these preliminary figures should be used with caution and are subject to verification through ongoing research.