Verra has released a new methodology in the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program, VM0046 Methodology for Reducing Food Loss and Waste, v1.0. This methodology quantifies emission reductions from interventions that reduce food loss and waste.
Food loss and waste is responsible for 8 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, and per the IPCC’s mitigation pathways, reducing food loss and waste is essential to meeting the 1.5°C target. Verra has led on the development of a new methodology in the VCS Program that drives finance to interventions to reduce food loss and waste and address this problem at scale.
The methodology applies to activities that prevent loss or waste of food products at different levels of the food supply chain (e.g., farming, food processing, retail, foodservice/hospitality, and residential). It provides procedures for quantifying the downstream emission reductions resulting from diverting food from a food loss and waste destination (e.g., landfill) through, for example, demand planning, the use of apps to facilitate food sharing, and food bank donations.
Quantis (opens in new tab) and Kai Robertson developed the methodology, following a Verra-led development process per the VCS Methodology Development and Review Process, v4.2 (PDF).
In the next couple of months, Verra plans to host a webinar to provide an overview of the methodology.