How can we turn the food waste problem into a climate solution?
A new Nature Food study suggests that instead of focusing only on reducing food waste, we should also explore how to repurpose it. One-third of all food produced is wasted annually, generating half the emissions from the global agrifood system. Researchers examined three methods to recycle food waste—anaerobic composting (AC), anaerobic digestion (AD), and feeding it to animals (“re-feed”). These approaches could cut greenhouse gas emissions by about one tonne per tonne of food waste. In China alone, this could reduce agricultural emissions by nearly 20%. The study analyzed data from 91 studies across the U.S., EU, and China, showing clear environmental benefits over landfill disposal. Additional gains include fertilizer production, energy generation, and land savings. However, safety and regulation—especially for re-feed—are crucial. Countries like South Korea and Japan offer successful models. While preventing waste remains the ultimate goal, recycling food waste is an effective, scalable interim solution. Learn more about this plan
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