Integrating Food Waste Diversion into Food Systems Planning: A Case Study of the Mississippi Gulf Coast

Abstract

Food waste presents a great challenge for the efficiency of food systems and for solid waste management. Many solid waste management strategies can be used for managing food waste in the food system, but their implementation depends on local factors. Strategies must also be modified or designed to accommodate local needs and unique circumstances. This paper reports the planning process undertaken in the Mississippi Gulf Coast to develop a food system plan that integrated strategies to manage food waste more sustainably. The planning process was a three-step process that engaged stakeholders in the food supply chain from production, distribution, retail, and consumption through to post-consumption. The article describes the specific steps taken to assess the generation of food waste in the foodshed, engage stakeholders, and develop strategies for food waste diversion and management. It concludes by offering recommendations on how communities can integrate food waste diversion into their food system planning efforts.