Workshop on Food Waste Reduction

Food waste is one of the most pressing topics of our time, with approximately one third of globally produced food going uneaten (World Food Programme 2021). The fact that substantial amounts of food are produced but not eaten by humans has substantial negative impacts, spanning environmental, social, and economic realms. It is estimated that 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions are linked to unconsumed food. Addressing food waste across agri-food supply chains, retail, food service, and households can yield manifold benefits for both humanity and the environment. Nevertheless, the full extent of food waste and its consequences has not been thoroughly comprehended until recently (UNEP 2021). Our workshop aims to create a platform for scientific exchange and collaboration in the fields of food waste management, prevention and related topics.

Who is participating? What is the goal?

Participation in this workshop is by invitation only, and we are limiting the number of participants to around 25. We plan to have 10-12 presentations organized in a single stream. Our goal is the bring together leading scholars in the field of food waste reduction, fostering discussions and collaborations. This workshop will serve as an opportunity to initiate brainstorming and joint research projects dedicated to combatting food waste. Furthermore, we are exploring the possibility of inviting representatives from grocery retailers to share their experiences and insights on food waste reduction.

When and where does it take place?

The workshop is scheduled to take place Monday, September 23 (morning) to Tuesday, September 24 (late afternoon) 2024, at the Technical University of Munich (TUM). This event is jointly organized by Arzum Akkas (Isenberg School of management, University of Massachusetts Amherst), Dorothee Honhon (Naveen Jindal School of Management, University of Texas at Dallas) and Alexander Hübner (Technical University of Munich), and it will be hosted at the TUM sustainability campus in Straubing.

What’s going on as well?

The workshop will immediately follow the annual meeting of the Euro Working Group on Retail Operations, scheduled from Wednesday, September 18 to Friday, September 21, 2024, and will be hosted in Vienna, Austria. Vienna and Munich are well-connected by frequent trains that take approximately 3 hours, providing the opportunity for attendees to conveniently participate in both events during a single trip.

In combination with the workshop, we plan to organize a trip to the world-famous Octoberfest in Munich, Bavaria. It is the world’s largest Volksfest, featuring a beer festival, and is held annually and typically attracts more than six million international and national visitors. More details will be provided as soon as reservations are made.

In organizing the workshop, we are committed to being very mindful in order to minimize the quantity of food waste. We hope that this event can serve as a template for reducing food waste at future conferences and workshops.

Are you interested?

We hope that you can join us in this important workshop, where we can collectively address the critical issue of food waste and work towards innovative solutions. Your expertise and insights are valuable, and we look forward to productive discussions and collaborations.

Please let us know if you are interested in attending by filling out this form (no commitment at this point!).