On-Farm Food Loss and the Future of Farming: Insights from Dr. Lisa Johnson

Listen to our podcast: Spotify or Apple Music

🌱 In this episode of the Going Zero podcast, Dr. Lisa Johnson, an expert in food loss and waste, horticulturist, and sustainability advocate, sheds light on the challenges and opportunities within agricultural systems. Drawing on her extensive research and on-the-ground experience, Dr. Johnson shares how food loss on farms impacts our food systems and what solutions could lead to transformative change.

Why This Conversation Matters

The issue of food loss and waste is vast, but on-farm food loss—where edible crops never leave the farm—often flies under the radar. Dr. Johnson explains that up to 42% of produce grown on farms is left behind, considered "unmarketable" due to size, shape, or overproduction. This loss represents a critical gap in addressing sustainability and food security.

“Food loss isn’t the farmer’s fault; it’s a systemic issue driven by market constraints, buyer expectations, and logistical realities,” Dr. Johnson explains.

Key Takeaways

1. Understanding On-Farm Losses: Produce deemed imperfect or surplus often stays in the field because harvesting it isn’t economically viable. This loss isn’t just a missed opportunity—it underscores the inefficiencies in how we value food.

2. The Role of Measurement: Quantifying food loss is the first step toward addressing it. Dr. Johnson emphasizes that measurement tools used in other parts of the supply chain can be adapted to farms, helping farmers and stakeholders better understand the scale of the issue.

3. A Call for Collaboration: Solutions to food loss require a multi-stakeholder approach, bringing together policymakers, growers, and consumers to create systems that support both economic and environmental sustainability.

Challenges and Opportunities

Dr. Johnson highlights the tension between economic realities and sustainability. For farmers, leaving crops unharvested is often the least harmful option financially and environmentally. However, this also means that nutritious food doesn’t reach people who need it.

Potential solutions include:

• Subsidies and Price Floors: Policies that support growers of fruits and vegetables could make harvesting less-than-perfect produce economically feasible.

• Consumer Awareness: Encouraging consumers to purchase imperfect produce and eat seasonally could reduce food loss.

• Smaller-Scale Adaptations: Dr. Johnson points to farmers’ markets and direct-to-consumer models as ways to reduce food loss on smaller farms.

What’s Next?

Dr. Johnson challenges listeners to rethink how we approach food systems. From supporting local farmers to demanding systemic changes, everyone has a role to play. She stresses the importance of including growers in these conversations: “If we don’t consider farmers in redesigning the food system, we risk pushing them out of production entirely.”

Dr. Lisa Johnson’s insights remind us that food loss is not just an agricultural issue—it’s a systemic challenge that affects environmental sustainability, economic stability, and global food security. By addressing on-farm food loss, we take a crucial step toward creating a more resilient and equitable food system.

Learn More

GoingZero.org is a not-for-profit educational resource sponsored by Emerald Ecovations. If you enjoyed this newsletter and want more sustainability content like this:

-Follow us on LinkedIn.

-Like, follow, and subscribe to our podcast on Apple or Spotify.

The Going Zero podcast of sponsored by Emerald Ecovations.