Food Retail as the Coordinator Agent of Food Supply Chain: Challenges and Opportunities for Reducing Loss and Waste

Abstract

Reducing food loss and waste is part of the food security objectives, and there is plenty of research worldwide to try dealing with this issue. This article proposes a theoretical analysis of food loss and waste in light of the agribusiness system approach, having the value system as a whole at a strategic level. Retail is appointed as the coordinating agent for having consumption information: several studies addressing sustainability use this approac h. Some opportunities and challenges are pointed out, so that coordination can be promoted along the chain, engaged by their environment, along with strategies of agents in collaborative actions.