ASABE Annual International Meeting 2 1 An ASABE Meeting Presentation DOI: 10.13031/aim.20162461571 Paper Number: 162461571 Ethics of Food Resource Consumption Carolina Bermudez, Jake Behrens, Sai Marripudi, Dr. Kurt Rosentrater Written for presentation at the 2016 ASABE Annual International Meeting Sponsored by ASABE Orlando, Florida July 17-20, 2016 ABSTRACT. Food waste is a global-scale issue that can no longer be ignored. Misuse of resources has caused large amounts of food waste in the past that results in a waste of resources such as fossil fuels, water, land, and produces excess greenhouse gasses in the process. Alternatives exist for reuse and recapturing of the potential trapped within our wasted food resources. Processes such as composting, biogas, chemical conversion, animal feed production, and other recycling efforts can be implemented in areas where reducing food waste seems to be difficult. Increasing industrial efficiency may also reduce waste. New and emerging control technologies have helped reduce agricultural inputs and also reduce waste while processing. Raising consumer awareness of these issues may push buyers in the direction of environmental and economic harmony where a balance can be kept between consumers and the industry. If growing future demands of developing countries cannot be met government intervention may have to take place. However, these systems are expensive and take the time to implement. Focusing on consumer waste reduction and industrial efficiency must be a priority to reduce food waste in the near future. Keywords. Food waste, supply chain, pre-consumer, post-consumer, composting, landfill, incineration. The authors are solely responsible for the content of this meeting presentation. The presentation does not necessarily reflect the official position of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE), and its printing and distribution does not constitute an endorsement of views which may be expressed. Meeting presentations are not subject to the formal peer review process by ASABE editorial committees; therefore, they are not to be presented as refereed publications. Citation of this work should state that it is from an ASABE meeting paper. EXAMPLE: Author’s Last Name, Initials. 2016. Title of presentation. ASABE Paper No. ---. St. Joseph, MI.: ASABE. For information about securing permission to reprint or reproduce a meeting presentation, please contact ASABE at http://www.asabe.org/copyright (2950 Niles Road, St. Joseph, MI 49085-9659 USA). 1