Reducing food losses: A (dis)-opportunity cost model

A huge amount of resources used in food production is lost or wasted globally and the same for the greenhouse gas emissions caused by the production of food. A plethora of methodologies to assess economic, environmental and social impacts stands out. The aim of this paper is to analyze the social impacts of food losses along the food chain: the methodology is based on the elaboration of a disopportunity cost taking into account food waste and losses Kcals and Kcals/required per day (to cope with the energy expenditure), U.A.A. (Utilized Agricultural Area) cost. Findings are aimed at highlighting how the food looses reduction is crucial for an intra-generational equity.