Food loss and waste – Solutions of tomorrow by Denmark

Companies and stakeholders from the Danish food cluster came together last week to share their solutions and innovations in reducing food loss and waste. The aim was clear: How can companies overcome the challenges in this area and tap into the 700-billion-dollar business opportunity?

“How can a private company in a small country contribute to solving the big challenge of food loss and waste?” said Charlotte Thy, Sustainability Director of Danish Crown, encapsulating the theme of the conference “Food Loss and Waste – Solutions of Tomorrow by Denmark”. Here, companies from the Danish food industry came together to share their concrete solutions in reducing food loss and waste in food production.

And private companies can contribute to solving the challenges of food loss and waste, it seems. Whether it is the company, CIMBRIA, who are improving the technology in the grain sorting process, making sure only the best and most durable crops are used. Or Chr. Hansen who are researching and developing a natural yogurt bacteria, that dramatically increases the shelf life of yogurt products. Or maybe Danish Crown, who are expanding to markets, where products that may be discarded in one country can be utilized in others. Overall, the Danish companies showed, that food waste and loss can be reduced. Well documented, tried and tested solutions proven in the real world like these are key in changing the future for the better – because action, not just talk, changes procedures in companies.

These actions do not only have societal and environmental impact: “This is not just a CSR-initiative. Reducing food loss and waste is a billion-dollar potential. This is good business”, said speaker Shalini Unnikrishnan from The Boston Consulting Group (BCG). Together with Food Nation and State of Green, BCG recently launched a report addressing the problems, but also the business opportunities of reducing food loss and waste. And the numbers speak for themselves: The report concludes, that by reducing food loss and waste, businesses might tap into a 700-billion-dollar potential.

Wrapping the conference up, Lise Walbom, CEO of Food Nation, addresses three main takeaways, also discussed in the BCG-report: “To make a difference, businesses have to learn from each other. Partners are important. They also must choose where to play and decide what changes they can make. Lastly, documentation is vital”, she says.

The conference Food Loss and Waste – Solutions of Tomorrow by Denmark where held by Food Nation, State of Green, The Confederation of Danish Industry and the Danish Agriculture & Food Council.

Read more about Food Nation’s stronghold on sustainability here.