Farms

This loss is caused by multiple direct and indirect factors. 

1. One significant direct driver beyond complete control lies in biological and environmental factors. Crops can suffer from damage caused by pests, diseases, and various weather conditions, climate fluctuations, soil quality, water availability, extreme weather events, and natural disasters.
2. Inadequate technology and infrastructure also contribute directly to food waste due to factors such as insufficient storage for harvested produce, poor harvesting technology, failure to manage the temperature of produce during harvest, improper fishing gear and lack of chilling for landed catch. Without proper storage facilities for perishable produce, farmers are compelled to sell regardless of market prices or risk wastage.
3. Decisions made at the farm level, such as poor harvesting and handling techniques, assessment of crop maturity, and timing of harvest, are additional direct contributors. In animal agriculture, waste drivers include poor sanitation during milking resulting in diseases, substandard animal husbandry leading to high mortality rates, and fishing practices resulting in significant discards.
4. Supermarkets have also been identified as playing a visible and systematic role in food overproduction and subsequent waste on farms globally. Cosmetic imperfections, referred to as 'ugly produce', represent a significant source of food waste on farms both before and after harvest, as consumers show less interest in misshapen or blemished items. Food safety concerns and improper refrigeration and handling can also compel farmers to discard otherwise edible food.
5. Overproduction has become a normalized practice among suppliers to meet producer demands, significantly contributing to food waste at the farmer level. Farmers often feel compelled to overproduce as a precaution against risk and to ensure they can meet supermarket demands. A survey by Feedback found that six out of 10 farmers reported overproducing due to pressure to consistently fulfill buyer orders or risk contract loss. This surplus supply surpasses demand during periods of favorable weather and abundant crops. This issue is particularly pronounced in local seasonal produce, as seen in the UK in 2017 during a cauliflower glut, resulting in significant quantities of the vegetable going to waste and prompting several supermarkets to reduce prices.