Apprehending food waste in Asia: policies, practices and promising trends

This chapter considers food waste from the perspective of cities in Asia, presenting case studies from Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines. Interdisciplinary perspectives are brought together, drawing from sociology, industrial ecology, urban planning and public affairs, towards highlighting current efforts to manage waste in select cities as well as the relation between national legislation and municipal implementation. The focus of this chapter is on innovative strategies that are currently in place towards source reduction and food waste management, ranging from community-based initiatives to private-sector strategies. We conclude with an overview of promising trends, and identify recommendations for further promoting food waste policies, action and research across the region.