Food production, waste and packaging are three critical and interconnected issues at the forefront of sustainability challenges. Globally, an estimated one-third of all food produced is wasted, amounting to 1.3 billion tonnes annually and contributing to 8–10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, the growing reliance on packaging, particularly single-use plastics, exacerbates environmental pollution, with significant impacts on land and marine ecosystems.

This workshop will bring together researchers and academics to discuss the main challenges of food production, waste and packaging and collaboratively develop research lines to address these issues. We hope these projects will serve as a foundation for designing research proposals and securing funding for their implementation

This workshop seeks to convene academic experts aiming to:

- To identify the key challenges of the food, production waste and packaging issues.

- To co-develop interdisciplinary proposals to address these challenges.

*Please note this is an internal workshop only for University of Manchester students and staff.

Relevant resources for preparation and context:

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

WRAP: Food Waste and Resource Efficiency

Ellen MacArthur Foundation: Rethinking Packaging

Tackling Food Waste and Packaging Challenges