Laura’s paper explored the the social and cultural processes that underlie the transformation of ‘food’ to ‘waste’ in households in the United States. The research focused on those two household types spanning a variety of ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Isabel’s study asks the question: What factors drive Canadian households to waste food? This study found that many of the behaviours and socio-economic factors linked to higher household food wastage in other studies (such as the presence of children, income, attitudes towards leftovers) were also relevant in the context of Canadian households.

Jordon’s presentation concerned the potential for food waste prevention in a University environment and how social media can be used as a tool for behaviour change. Dealing with food waste was found to be a hidden practice engrained in daily routines which counteracted possible prevention.

Marie’s presentation explored how the recent politicization of “food waste” in France and the United States is changing the valuation of excess food in the broader food system. Marie argues that the organizational structures and balance of power in the food system, as well as cultural factors, explain the way “food waste” has been constructed as a social issue in the last few years.

Keith presented findings from research in Seoul, Korea that used surveys, waste diaries, and interviews to investigate the causes of household food waste in relation to where households bought their groceries. Keith found that the performance of certain food-management practices remains important, but it is also anticipated that different retail formats can impact household food waste by exposing consumers to differences in product pricing, marketing, and store atmosphere, as well as influencing consumer transport mode and grocery trip frequency.

Tammara presented on the dynamics of urban household food provisioning in the Global South and the resulting impact on food wasting practices. Her paper explores the diversity of consumption and food wasting patterns occurring within households of varying incomes and sizes in urban Indonesia.