Understanding Food Loss
Learn how measuring and managing food loss can deliver environmental, economic and societal benefits.
Duration
2 weeksWeekly study
2 hours100% online
How it worksDigital upgrade
Free
Understanding Food Loss
Improve sustainability by measuring and managing food loss
In face of significant sustainability challenges, finding effective solutions to reduce food loss and waste has never been more urgent.
Developed as part of the EU-funded FOLOU project, this two-week course from the University of Reading will help you understand food loss, particularly in the context of the wider food system, recognise the value of measuring food loss as a first step towards tackling the problem, and identify key stakeholders.
By the end of it, you’ll be able to explain why food loss matters and how better measurement and management can improve the sustainability, security and fairness of our food systems.
Learn the difference between food loss vs. food waste
Understanding the distinction between food loss and food waste is the first step toward making a real impact.
On this course, you’ll discover how food loss is defined and explore the environmental, societal, and behavioural causes of it.
You’ll learn where food loss occurs in the food system and why it’s critical to Europe and beyond. You’ll also hear how farmers, researchers and policy-makers are responding to the challenges.
Explore innovative tools to measure food loss
As a crucial step toward finding effective solutions, you’ll focus on the techniques and tools available to quantify food loss, as well as the latest innovations in the field.
By understanding how to measure food loss, you’ll be equipped to make more informed decisions and drive change on the ground.
You’ll also gain a broader perspective by exploring the roles of different stakeholders in these environmental efforts, alongside the ethical considerations that ensure your actions are responsible and impactful.
Main image © WWF/Santi Donaire
Syllabus
Week 1
Week 1
Welcome to Understanding Food Loss
Thank you for joining us on this course. Discover what you'll be learning over the next two weeks.
Why food loss matters
How big is the food loss problem? Explore the challenges to estimating and measuring loss and how we can address this.
The Food System
Why is food loss not just a primary production issue? Understand the direct and indirect causes of food loss across the entire food system.
Review and reflect
Reflect on what you've learnt this week with a short quiz and summary article.
Week 2
Week 2
The food system in detail
Welcome to Week 2. Explore the food system in more detail to understand why and where food loss occurs.
Techniques and tools to measure food loss
What are suitable measurement methods? Explore examples of measurement techniques for different commodities and contexts.
What change could look like
How can you take action? Identify key food loss stakeholders and the opportunities for engagement for different groups including consumers.
Review and Reflect
Check your understanding with our course assessment and find out how to continue your learning.
Who is this accredited by?
EIT Food is Europe’s leading food initiative, working to make the food system more sustainable, healthy and trusted.
When would you like to start?
Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.
Available now
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Explain the significance of food loss in primary production
- Define food loss as an economic and sustainability issue
- Describe food loss within the wider food system context
- Recognise the value of defining and improving food loss measurement
- List a range of methods and tools to measure food loss
- Identify key food loss stakeholders and opportunities for engagement
Who is the course for?
The course is designed for anyone interested in learning more about food loss in primary production. It will be particularly useful for the primary production sector (e.g. farmers, farm advisors, farm associations and consultants), researchers, public administrators, policymakers and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Who will you learn with?
I am a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Reading. I have an environmental practitioner background, and I'm particularly interested in sustainable food system transitions.
I am an Associate Professor in the School of
Agriculture, Policy and Development at the University of Reading.
My research focuses on co-developing sustainable agricultural systems.
I am an academic with broad interests in agricultural sustainability, the process of change to more sustainable systems and the use of technology.
Who developed the course?
University of Reading
The University of Reading has a reputation for excellence in teaching, research and enterprise.
FOLOU
The course was developed in close collaboration with the FOLOU project. FOLOU is a Horizon Europe project with 16 partners across Europe.
Endorsers and supporters
funded by
What's included?
University of Reading are offering everyone who joins this course a free digital upgrade, so that you can experience the full benefits of studying online for free. This means that you get:
Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
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