Food Mesh: Economic Analysis of Food Loss along the Value Chain in BC

 

 

 

 

 

Project Summary

Title: An economic analysis of Food Loss along the Value Chain in BC

A comprehensive research study examining the economics of the local "Food Waste Value Chain" in BC. More specifically, combining research from existing food waste studies (e.g. Metro Van, City of Vancouver, and 3rd parties like reFed), looking at the volume, scale and frequency and causes of wasted food, but also mapping out who are the players along the way (value added processors, composters, etc.) and new initiatives.

Organization Information

Name

Vancouver Food Policy Council in collaboration with Mesh Exchange (FoodMesh) and Nada - Zero Waste Grocery.

Mission + Vision

FoodMesh: To eliminate edible commercial wasted food, and create a closed loop food system through network based re-distribution technology.

The Vancouver Food Policy Council works to help improve food sustainability in Vancouver, where food is:

  • Safe, nutritious, and culturally appropriate
  • Affordable, available, and accessible to all
  • Produced, processed, marketed, consumed, and waste products reused or managed in a manner that is, Financially viable, Protects the health and dignity of people, Minimally impacting the environment

Nada: To cultivate a better world by inspiring people to change the way they shop for groceries.

Guiding Principles + Values

  • Food is not waste. Nature has no waste, so why do we?
  • Holistic approach to understanding food loss prevention (no one size fits all strategy)
  • Waste = inefficiency - understanding root causes for inefficiency is first step towards providing solutions

Primary Contact

  • Contact Person(s): Jessica Pautsch
  • Email: jessica@foodmesh.ca
  • Address: 171 Water Street
  • Phone: 778-840-8600
  • Website: www.foodmesh.ca
  • Best time(s) method(s) to contact: Email

Project Description

A comprehensive research study examining the economics of the local "Food Waste Value Chain" in BC. More specifically, combining research from existing food waste studies (e.g. Metro Van, City of Vancouver, and 3rd parties like reFed), looking at the volume, scale and frequency and causes of wasted food, but also mapping out who are the players along the way (value added processors, composters, etc.) and new initiatives.

Goals of the Project

  • The output would be a white paper that provides a comprehensive landscape of the current status, and recommendations from other areas on how best to increase our collective food waste prevention and recovery initiatives in BC.
  • Directory of local initiatives to go to for each segment of supply chain for recovery.
  • Source inspiration from ReFed’s national 20% food waste reduction strategy and provide local context.

Skills Preferred + To Be Developed

  • Strong Independent and team work ethic
  • Comprehensive research capability (primary and secondary sources).
  • Ability to form and answer a clear research question that is applicable to industry and policy makers
  • Ability to derive conclusions on existing landscape of situation, identify the gaps, and provide clear practical advice for policy makers and industry.

Preferred Days of Week and Hours

Meet with Jessica Pautsch, lead mentor -

  • 1 x 3 hour initial meeting at Mesh Office (171 Water Street) onMonday, January 22, 2018
  • 3 x 1 monthly meetings at office.
  • Weekly 30-45 minute via web conference.
  • Email exchange, as required.
  • Students are encouraged to attend VFPC monthly meetings: http://www.vancouverfoodpolicycouncil.ca/monthly-meetings/
  • Students may be invited to attend the February or March waste working group session with the VFPC

Project/Partner Orientation

Expected Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

  • We hope students will learn about the local food distribution system and supply chain processes, and the structural barriers leading to wasted food.
  • We hope students will be able to discover and map leading innovative initiatives helping to create a circular economy.
  • We hope students will be able to understand and creatively communicate the scale and reasons of food waste in a way that informs and inspire change.

Organizational Outcomes

  1. An opportunity to understand all the players contributing to repairing a broken food distribution system.
  2. An ability to initiate a solutions based, multi-stakeholder conversation around food waste.
  3. An academic paper that can be used as a resource when speaking with government, industry and change makers.
source: https://wiki.ubc.ca/Course:LFS350/Projects/W2018/FoodMesh