The end of food waste: The food waste report dominates our media

The Department of International Business is pleased to share the success of our colleagues.

Ing. Veronika Mokrejšová, Ph.D. together with Ing. Alena Filipová, Ph.D. and Ing. Jiří Zeman, Ph.D., in cooperation with Mendel University in Brno and the organization Save The Food in preparation of a grant for the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic, designed the calculation for estimation of the price of wasted food in households. According to the calculations, a family of four with two adults and two children will lose CZK 14 076 in 2023 due to food waste, which is CZK 8 199 if calculated for an average household of 2.33, according to the Czech Statistical Office.

This research was based on data collected by Mendel University in Brno from 2019 to 2022, which is the most accurate data available on the waste by Czech households. “The municipal waste from housing estates we measured over three years gives us the most accurate data on the amount of food actually wasted. The average value of waste from a housing estate was used, because in villa estates or rural areas much food ends up on the compost heap. It was 53 kilograms per person per year after deducting unavoidable waste such as shells and bones,” Lucie Veselá from Mendel University in Brno explains.

Many variables were considered when calculating the price of wasted food, including data from the Czech Statistical Office on food consumption per kilogram and on Czech households’ consumption expenditure. “We also considered food composition (more expensive food is wasted less, perishable food more). Thanks to a qualified estimate based on MENDEL data, it was also possible to take into account the food we pour down the sink or toilet. The calculation also works with inflation (including the Czech National Bank’s prediction for 2023) and with a qualified estimate of the impact of the fact that there has already been some decrease in food waste in households during the last year due to the economic crisis,” says Ing. Veronika Mokrejšová, Ph.D.

Ing. Veronika Mokrejšová, Ph.D. appeared among others in the main news of TV Prima (link HERE)  or on ČT24 in the news of the scientific editorial office (link HERE), on Radio Blaník, Radio Proglas and others.

The problem of food waste is also addressed in the course 2MO446 – Food waste management held by Ing. Veronika Mokrejšová, Ph.D., which studies the issue of food wasting in the context of sustainability. International aspects and business orientation are stressed. The lectures should prepare future business representatives for reflecting this topic in everyday business processes from logistics and warehousing through HR management and compliance to marketing and finance. Considerable emphasis is also put on retailer-supplier relationships. The last part of the course is dedicated to the cooperation of business entities with NGOs.