Reduction Strategies for Food Loss and Waste in South African Supply Chains

The high levels of food loss and waste in South African supply chains pose significant environmental, economic, and social challenges. A combination of quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews were conducted across various sectors to identify best practices and areas for improvement. In the agricultural sector, an analysis of survey data showed that implementing temperature-controlled storage facilities could reduce food loss by up to 20% in perishable goods. The findings suggest that strategic investments in infrastructure and improved logistics management can significantly mitigate food waste. Policy recommendations include incentivizing the adoption of best practices through grants and subsidies, alongside capacity building programmes for farmers. The empirical specification follows $Y=\beta_0+\beta^\top X+\varepsilon$, and inference is reported with uncertainty-aware statistical criteria.