Reducing food loss and waste offers a triple win, saving money for farmers, companies and households, feeding more people, and alleviating pressure on the climate, water and land resources. But waste is not the only issue; current food production processes need modernisation and innovation to reduce energy and water consumption. The circular economy also has the potential to minimise pressure on natural resources.

Sustainable consumption and production patterns are central to many projects at Wageningen University & Research (WUR). Food & Biobased Research, for example, is taking a leading role in putting food waste on the political and public agendas. WUR is also working hard to find ways to reduce water and energy use in crop cultivation, and finding solutions that help achieve a circular and biobased economy.