UK Partner
Roza Sagitova, Doctor, Senior lecturer AEF/BAL
Ukraine Partner
Volodymyr Filippov, Doctor of Economic, Professor of Department of Management, Institute of Economics and Management
Co-Investigators
Lisa Jack, Professor of Accounting AEF/BAL
Lidiia Voloshchuk, Professor, Doctor of Economic Sciences, Head Of Accounting, Analysis and Audit Department, Institute of Economics and Management
Project objectives
One of the significant challenges faced by society is food loss and waste(FLW). FLW has negative social (food security), environmental (GHG emissions, land degradation), and financial implications (FLW costs). UN developed a 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which addresses FLW problem (SG 12) and calls for substantial waste reduction through ‘prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse’(SG12.5) and adoption of sustainable practices(SG12.6).
The Ukrainian Government recognises the issue and adopted the National Waste Strategy until 2030 aiming to build a comprehensive waste management system. Currently, Ukraine’s FW is sent to landfill. On average a Ukrainian generates 250-300kg of FW/year (FAO, 2021). The Government works on developing biofuel energy system to reduce GHG emissions and importantly to improve energy security. 3.4% of total primary energy supply in 2018 was biofuel, which is predicted to increase in future. Most of the biomass is plant residues and energy crops (UABIO, 2018), rather than FW.
Although FW would be an obvious choice for biofuel, there might be better solutions for sustainability through preventing, reduction, recycling and reuse of FW. This project addresses the ‘priority vertical’ identified by the Ukrainian Government, Food tech/Agtech, particularly FW management, to help Ukraine economy to be more socially, environmentally and financially sustainable.
Project goals
This project aims to evaluate opportunities for FLW prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse. The study will seek to answer to the following questions:
- What are the drivers of FLW in Ukraine?
- What food is the most lost or wasted?
- At what point food is lost or wasted?
- What businesses currently exist to deal with FW?
- How do Ukrainian companies manage their FW?
Objectives: to undertake:
1. Systematic literature review of academic and professional evidence on FLW in developing context, and particularly in Ukraine.
2. To develop primary data collection instruments: survey and semi-structured interviews/focus group.
3. Conduct survey of micro-enterprises in Ukraine.
4. Conduct semi-structured interviews/or focused groups of key constituents among micro- enterprises for more in-depth analysis of opportunities for change.
5. Analysis of primary and secondary data. T
he partner in Ukraine has established links with constituents within micro-enterprises. More importantly, these constituents have exposure to sustainability issues, and specifically to FLW. This will enable us to conduct survey and proceed to interviews/and or focus group data collection. Timeline of activities:
January: Initial meeting to plan project and recruit RA.
February-March: RA conduct analysis of literature and professional evidence. UK and Ukrainian teams construct primary data collection instruments. Apply for the Ethical approval.
April: Conduct survey and analyse survey results. Revise interview/focus group instrument based on survey results.
May: Conduct interviews/focus groups. RA starts transcribing/translating data.
June-July: Team meeting to discuss findings and analysis for article and funding bid.
August: Finalising article for submission; first draft WP for larger bid.
Role of each Partner
UK partner will lead on literature review on FLW in developing economies.
Ukrainian partner will lead on literature, policy and other State reports review on FLW in Ukrainian context.
UK partner apply for Ethical approval in UoP. Ukrainian partner applies for Ethical approval in Odesa University.
UK and Ukrainian partners co-develop survey instrument, interview/focus group protocol.
Ukrainian partner to conduct data collection.
Interview/focus group data is transcribed/translated by Ukrainian RA. Data analysed by UK and Ukrainian investigators. UK and Ukrainian teams write papers.
Timing
Project Start Date: 30 January 2023
Project End Date: 31 December 2024
Expected results
1. Data base on most wasted food and points where food is wasted in Ukraine.
2. Working paper on current state of FLW management among micro-enterprises in Ukraine.
3. Working paper on opportunities for FLW prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse among micro- enterprises in Ukraine.
4. At least one journal article to Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal or The British Accounting
Review (REF3*/ABDC 4*) to be submitted by Dec 2024.
