Exploring Sustainable Food Consumption Research Agenda in South Africa: Possibilities for Circular Economy Based Approaches

Abstract: The growing income levels and population worldwide have increased the demand for food, leading to unsustainable production and consumption practices. Food waste has significant ecological impacts, such as contributing to greenhouse gas emissions through decomposition in landfills. This study aims to explore the barriers and motivators for sustainable food consumption (SFC) in South Africa. One aspect of this issue is examining the potential for the circular economy (CE) approaches to address post-harvest losses in the food supply chain. Further along the supply chain, food losses become more evident at the retail level, where the removal of unsold food from the chain—at the consumer level, generated waste by the disposal of unconsumed food. CE strategies can help reduce waste by directing edible food towards donations and finding alternative uses for food unsuitable for consumption, such as converting it into energy or animal feed. Implementing CE strategies can benefit society, the economy, and the environment in South Africa. However, policy support is needed to transition fully to a CE model. Keywords: Circular economy, sustainable food consumption, food loss and waste, Sustainable Development Goals, South Africa