Pre-Conference Workshop 1

Reducing Food Loss and Waste: Cross-Regional Lessons for Research, Policy and Practice

Workshop Objectives
The workshop aims to synthesise lessons from major food loss and waste research projects and translate these lessons into priorities for future research, policy and investment. This includes:

• Disseminate findings from each project to a highly qualified audience of agricultural economists, researchers and policymakers. 

• Synthesise cross-cutting lessons on the drivers of food loss, the effectiveness of interventions, gender inclusion, and private sector engagement.

• Facilitate structured dialogue between project teams, ACIAR/IDRC representatives, and the broader research community on methodological innovations and evidence gaps.

• Co-create future directions for research and practice by bringing together researchers, policymakers, development partners and industry representatives to identify priorities, evidence gaps and opportunities for scaling successful interventions.  

Workshop Focus
The workshop will be structured around four cross-cutting themes:

• Measurement and methods: Comparing food loss measurement and assessment approaches across diverse value-chain contexts. 

• Gender and social inclusion: Lessons from gender-responsive approaches and implications for future research and development interventions. 

• Private sector engagement: Insights into partnerships, incentives and business models that support loss reduction. 

• Climate and food systems futures: Using foresighting and circular economy concepts to inform future food-system investment.  

Workshop Structure

10:30–10:45 Welcome — objectives and global context (Jack Hetherington, ACIAR /IDRC, Canberra ACT) 

10:45–11:15 Project Insights II — Pakistan and Sri Lanka mango/tomato value chains  

a) Smart business practices and e-commerce innovations for food loss mitigation in Pakistan (Nauman Ejaz, Islamic University of Islamabad) 

b) Community-led innovations for food loss mitigation in Sri Lanka: Awareness, Motivation and Capability model (Manoj Thibbotuwawa, Institute of Policy Studies, Sri Lanka)  

11:15–11:45 Project Insights III — Pangasius catfish value chains in the Mekong Basin  

a) Development and use of foresighting in value chain research (Kim Alexander, University of New England, Armidale, NSW) 

b) Integration of research through solution spaces (van Kien Nguyen, Griffith University, Australia)  

11:45–12:15 Project Insights IV — Urban food and nutrition loss in Malawi and Zambia:  

a) The invisible crisis and community-driven solutions (Gilbert Siame, AfricitiesFood project, Lusaka, Zambia) 

b) Challenges in meeting the needs of vulnerable populations (Mtafu Manda, Mzuzu University, Malawi)  

12:15–13:00 Lunch  

13:00–13:20 Partnership approach to food waste mitigation: Australian experience (Francesca Goodman‑Smith, End Food Waste Australia, Adelaide SA) 

13:20–14:20 Interactive Roundtable Discussion and Audience Dialogue  

Participants will work with presenters and ACIAR representatives to identify common lessons, research gaps, methodological challenges, and priorities for future investment and collaboration. Panel + Moderator (Thilak Mallawaarachchi, University of Queensland and Mallawa Insights, Brisbane and Jerrabomberra NSW)  

14:20–14:30 Wrap-up and Close — Key takeaways and next steps (Jack, Thilak)