Rethinking Food Waste: A Duke Climate Collaboration Symposium

The topic of food loss and waste sits at the heart of climate challenges, food insecurity, and sustainable development. This two-day symposium, hosted by the World Food Policy Center at Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy, will bring together scholars, policymakers, and practitioners from the public and private sectors to explore pathways for reducing food waste and redesigning our food systems for greater sustainability, equity, and resilience.

Wasted and lost food is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for approximately eight percent of total emissions while representing billions of dollars in economic loss each year. Addressing food waste offers a powerful opportunity to lower climate impacts, reduce hunger, and promote more efficient, inclusive food systems. This symposium will investigate food waste from multiple perspectives-including households, businesses, and policymakers-to identify pathways for meaningful change.

Featuring a keynote by leading food law and policy expert Emily Broad Leib of Harvard Law School, the Thursday, Jan. 22 event (open to the public) will highlight emerging research, policy developments, and practical strategies to move toward a climate-appropriate food system that nourishes people and sustains the planet. A networking reception will follow the keynote presentation.

Faculty and staff at Duke and other universities, as well as other guests outside the university, will take part in a private workshop on Friday, Jan. 23, that will explore how to help consumers reduce food waste by examining behavioral, economic, and structural factors that shape household decisions. Panel discussions will examine common assumptions, equity considerations, and policy solutions to promote more sustainable consumption. Workshop participants will ideate about potential future research topics, with the goal of moving toward proposal development.

Interested in participating? Please contact Deborah Hill (Deborah.hill@duke.edu) with your request to attend. Note: students will only be invited on recommendation of a faculty research collaborator.