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Abstract Reducing food loss and waste can improve the efficiency of food supply chains and provide food security. Here we estimate mass flow as well as food loss and waste along the US food supply chain for 10 commodity groups and nine management pathways to provide a baseline for designing efficient strategies to reduce, recycle, and recover food loss and waste. We estimate a total food loss and waste of 335.4 million metric tonnes from the U.S. food supply chain in 2016. Water evaporation (19%), recycling (55%), and landfill, incineration, or wastewater treatment (23%) accounted for most of the loss and waste. The consumption stage accounted for 57% of the food loss and waste disposed of through landfill, incineration, or wastewater treatment. Manufacturing was the largest contributor to food loss and waste (61%) but had a high recycling rate. High demand, perishable products accounted for 67% of food waste. We suggest that funding for infrastructure and incentives for earlier food donation can promote efficiency and sustainability of the supply chain, promote FLW collection and recycling along the U.S. FSC, and improve consumer education in order to move towards a circular economy.
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This content will become publicly available on June 1, 2026
From waste management to protein innovation: Black soldier fly as an embodiment of the circular bioeconomy
The Black Soldier Fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens, represents a sustainable source of protein by converting organic waste into valuable products. BSF production requires minimal resources compared to traditional livestock and generates significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions (about 0.017 kg CO₂-eq per kg protein versus 57–500 kg CO₂-eq per kg protein for livestock). Diverting 1 % of global food waste to BSF production could yield an estimated 332,000 metric tonnes of protein annually and 1 million metric tonnes of organic fertilizer. This paper explores the economic, environmental, and operational dimensions of BSF production, focusing on supply chain strategies that optimize scalability and sustainability. Analyzing configurations such as vertical integration, distributed systems, and nucleus-plasma models, it identifies critical factors shaping supply chain design and environmental impacts. The findings emphasize the importance of supportive regulations, continued research investment, and strategic supply chain development.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2052454
- PAR ID:
- 10616182
- Publisher / Repository:
- Texas A&M
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Future foods
- ISSN:
- 2666-8335
- Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
- Black soldier fly Bioeconomy Circular economy Supply chain Policy
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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