Chapter 20: Food Waste among Young Consumers in Developing Countries: Trends, Determinants, and Sustainability Challenges: Food waste in developing countries

Food waste has become a critical global challenge with profound economic, environmental, and social implications, undermining efforts to achieve sustainable development and food security. In recent years, increasing attention has been directed toward food waste generated by young consumers, particularly university students, whose food consumption patterns, lifestyles, and purchasing behaviors significantly influence waste generation. This chapter provides a comprehensive review of the literature on food waste among young consumers in developing countries, with a special emphasis on institutional and university settings. It synthesizes the conceptual and theoretical foundations of food waste by drawing on the economic theory of consumer behavior, the Theory of Planned Behavior, institutional theory, and behavioral economics to explain the complex interplay between individual choices and structural factors. The chapter further examines global and regional evidence on food waste trends, highlighting differences between developed and developing countries and discussing the growing significance of consumption-stage waste in South Asia and Pakistan. Attention is given to the behavioral, socio-demographic, economic, and institutional determinants that shape food waste practices among university students, as well as the methodologies used to measure food waste in educational institutions. The review identifies important research gaps, including the lack of micro-level evidence from Pakistani universities, limited investigation of institutional determinants, and the absence of systematic evaluations of campus-based waste reduction interventions. By integrating theoretical insights and empirical evidence, the chapter develops a conceptual framework that links key determinants to food waste outcomes and establishes a strong foundation for future empirical research and policy interventions aimed at promoting sustainable food consumption and reducing food waste among young consumers in developing countries.