Understanding the drivers of household food waste in Spanish regions

Abstract

The global issue of food waste has major impacts on the environment, economy, and society. It is well known that an estimated one-third of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted, with private households being the largest contributor. Despite growing recognition, there is a shortage of consistent data that hinders comparison and track progress on reducing food waste across countries, sectors and regions. Our research aims at assessing the drivers of food waste at household level in Spain. It contributes the relevant literature by providing a novel dataset of food waste rates at regional level and the implementation of advanced panel data econometric techniques to assess the relative importance of macroeconomic drivers. The results will provide valuable insights for policymakers to take targeted measures in order to reduce food waste and enhance food security, and contribute to the broader literature on food waste, which is increasingly important for addressing population and climate change challenges.