Authors: Zheyuan Ryan Shi, Yiwen Yuan, Kimberly Lo, Ameesh Kapoor, Anthony Levin-Decanini, Sean Hudson, Jake Tepperman, Leah Lizarondo, and Fei Fang
Food waste and food insecurity exist in many places around the world. For example, in the US, over 25% of the food is wasted, with an average American wasting about one pound of food per day. Meanwhile, 12% of American households struggle to secure enough food at some point. With the COVID-19 pandemic, the problem is becoming even worse. Fortunately, from New York to Colorado, from San Francisco to Sydney, food rescue (FR) platforms are fighting against food waste and insecurity in over 100 cities around the world. In the US alone, there are already over 50 cities where FRs are providing basic necessities to the communities, affecting over a million people. Their operation has proved to be effective. Food rescue organizations receive edible food from restaurants and groceries (referred to as “donors”) and send it to organizations serving low-resource communities (“recipients”). These food rescue organizations are an important force to fight against food waste and food insecurity, both included in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.