Environmental Degradation and Sustainability Food Production and Waste Valorization: A Value Chain Analysis in Pakistan

Abstract

In accordance with the global biodiversity creation of food waste and food processor's focus on improving food waste management strategies for the entire food supply chain (FSC), it is an essential need of time to conduct a comprehensive study. Consistent growth in urbanization, the transformation of lifestyles into modernization, and industrial re-evaluation will increase the use of natural resources. The current linear economic system, based on metal mining, used in manufacturing, consumes and ends up disposing of the product, which has caused environmental issues for the world, particularly developing nations such as Pakistan, as well as the loss of biodiversity, air soil water, and pollution, to endanger life on the Earth support system and to reinforce and maintain the soil in terms of land filling. Undoubtedly, this lack of resources is a major barrier to sustainable development and to addressing the growing needs of the community as well as increasing poverty. Developing countries such as Pakistan, which is part of a less developed world, where 29% of the population live below the poverty line, which can be translated into 55 million people. Community expectations have not been met due to problems such as rising unemployment, the worst working climate, poverty traps for social inequalities, widening inequalities, and intergenerational equity, and it is impossible for citizens to get three times a day's food. The primary cause is the food waste. The primary element in making our food structure more effective is to reduce losses across the entire FSC and reduce environmental degradation at the lowest level. There is a wealth of research available on the application of the Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) to various sectors such as agriculture, the production of different goods and their effects on environmental degradation, but rare studies are available in developing countries like Pakistan. This chapter aimed to cover all aspects of LCA, Life Cycle Costs (LCC), Environmental Life Cycle Costs (E-LCC), Social Life Cycle Costs (S-LCC), and their role in mitigating environmental degradation. Food waste with its three major classifications for e.g.; mega-trends, natural constraints; and root management were addressed in depth. Similarly, the effect of the climate on three main pillars of sustainability, such as economic, social, and environmental sustainability, has also been addressed. The proposed new LCA covers four closely linked methods which are the juxtaposition of substitutive product processes/services; the juxtaposition of a life-cycle substitute for a particular product or service; and the identification of life-saving changes in parts where maximum improvements can be produced. The application of LCA on various biological and non-biological food waste valorization process are elaborated. In the end detailed deliberation on current efforts made on LCA has been discussed in this chapter.