Investigating the Potential Effects of Food Waste Reduction Interventions Within the Leafy Vegetable Supply Chain in Kermanshah Province, Iran

Despite the increasing concerns regarding meeting the world’s future food demand, there is still a substantial quantity of food loss and waste (FLW), particularly concerning fruits and vegetables. In the case of Kermanshah province, inefficiencies within the leafy vegetable supply chpain (LVSC) cont...

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Main Authors: Mostafa Moradi, Hossein Shabanali Fami, Ali Akbar Barati, Felicitas Schneider, Lusine Henrik Aramyan, Reza Salehi Mohammadi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Agriculture
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/12/2344
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author Mostafa Moradi
Hossein Shabanali Fami
Ali Akbar Barati
Felicitas Schneider
Lusine Henrik Aramyan
Reza Salehi Mohammadi
author_facet Mostafa Moradi
Hossein Shabanali Fami
Ali Akbar Barati
Felicitas Schneider
Lusine Henrik Aramyan
Reza Salehi Mohammadi
author_sort Mostafa Moradi
collection DOAJ
description Despite the increasing concerns regarding meeting the world’s future food demand, there is still a substantial quantity of food loss and waste (FLW), particularly concerning fruits and vegetables. In the case of Kermanshah province, inefficiencies within the leafy vegetable supply chpain (LVSC) contribute to an alarming annual waste of 39% of leafy vegetables. Although several studies have proposed strategies and recommendations for mitigating this waste, the actual impact of these interventions on reducing FLW has not been thoroughly examined or quantified. Using System Dynamic Modeling, this study offers a novel approach to quantify the impact of interventions on waste reduction. The quantification results reveal four key interventions reducing vegetable waste at the production stage: biotic (31.2%) and abiotic stress control (14.4%), improved educational services (23.2%), and access to quality inputs (15.2%). Furthermore, the results suggest that early-stage factors in the LVSC play a crucial role in determining waste accumulation in later stages. Improvements in packaging facilities and cold supply chain infrastructure, along with better coordination and information sharing among stakeholders at the market stage, significantly help reduce waste. Additionally, effective planning for household food shopping is emphasized as a crucial strategy for minimizing waste at the consumption stage. This holistic approach focuses on the interconnectedness of actions across various stages of the supply chain and their combined effect on decreasing the overall waste of leafy vegetables.
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spelling doaj-art-d194b4b9261d4e3ab5188c18b06f39102025-08-20T02:55:31ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722024-12-011412234410.3390/agriculture14122344Investigating the Potential Effects of Food Waste Reduction Interventions Within the Leafy Vegetable Supply Chain in Kermanshah Province, IranMostafa Moradi0Hossein Shabanali Fami1Ali Akbar Barati2Felicitas Schneider3Lusine Henrik Aramyan4Reza Salehi Mohammadi5Department of Agricultural Management and Development, University of Tehran, Karaj P.C. 31518-77871, IranDepartment of Agricultural Management and Development, University of Tehran, Karaj P.C. 31518-77871, IranDepartment of Agricultural Management and Development, University of Tehran, Karaj P.C. 31518-77871, IranJohann Heinrich von Thünen Institute, Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries, Bundesallee 63, 38116 Braunschweig, GermanyWageningen Social and Economic Research, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 35, 6700 AA Wageningen, The NetherlandsDepartment of Horticultural Sciences, University of Tehran, Karaj P.C. 31518-77871, IranDespite the increasing concerns regarding meeting the world’s future food demand, there is still a substantial quantity of food loss and waste (FLW), particularly concerning fruits and vegetables. In the case of Kermanshah province, inefficiencies within the leafy vegetable supply chpain (LVSC) contribute to an alarming annual waste of 39% of leafy vegetables. Although several studies have proposed strategies and recommendations for mitigating this waste, the actual impact of these interventions on reducing FLW has not been thoroughly examined or quantified. Using System Dynamic Modeling, this study offers a novel approach to quantify the impact of interventions on waste reduction. The quantification results reveal four key interventions reducing vegetable waste at the production stage: biotic (31.2%) and abiotic stress control (14.4%), improved educational services (23.2%), and access to quality inputs (15.2%). Furthermore, the results suggest that early-stage factors in the LVSC play a crucial role in determining waste accumulation in later stages. Improvements in packaging facilities and cold supply chain infrastructure, along with better coordination and information sharing among stakeholders at the market stage, significantly help reduce waste. Additionally, effective planning for household food shopping is emphasized as a crucial strategy for minimizing waste at the consumption stage. This holistic approach focuses on the interconnectedness of actions across various stages of the supply chain and their combined effect on decreasing the overall waste of leafy vegetables.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/12/2344food loss and wasteleafy vegetable supply chainwaste reduction interventionssystem dynamic modelingKermanshah
spellingShingle Mostafa Moradi
Hossein Shabanali Fami
Ali Akbar Barati
Felicitas Schneider
Lusine Henrik Aramyan
Reza Salehi Mohammadi
Investigating the Potential Effects of Food Waste Reduction Interventions Within the Leafy Vegetable Supply Chain in Kermanshah Province, Iran
Agriculture
food loss and waste
leafy vegetable supply chain
waste reduction interventions
system dynamic modeling
Kermanshah
title Investigating the Potential Effects of Food Waste Reduction Interventions Within the Leafy Vegetable Supply Chain in Kermanshah Province, Iran
title_full Investigating the Potential Effects of Food Waste Reduction Interventions Within the Leafy Vegetable Supply Chain in Kermanshah Province, Iran
title_fullStr Investigating the Potential Effects of Food Waste Reduction Interventions Within the Leafy Vegetable Supply Chain in Kermanshah Province, Iran
title_full_unstemmed Investigating the Potential Effects of Food Waste Reduction Interventions Within the Leafy Vegetable Supply Chain in Kermanshah Province, Iran
title_short Investigating the Potential Effects of Food Waste Reduction Interventions Within the Leafy Vegetable Supply Chain in Kermanshah Province, Iran
title_sort investigating the potential effects of food waste reduction interventions within the leafy vegetable supply chain in kermanshah province iran
topic food loss and waste
leafy vegetable supply chain
waste reduction interventions
system dynamic modeling
Kermanshah
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/12/2344
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