Final answer:
Food waste in developing countries mainly occurs at early production stages, while in developed countries, waste is higher at the consumer level due to cultural attitudes towards excess. Strategies to reduce food waste differ by country's development level, with high-income countries needing to address processing and consumer habits, and low-income countries needing infrastructure improvements for food storage and handling.
Step-by-step explanation:
In developing countries, food waste primarily occurs at early production stages due to factors such as poor harvest scheduling, improper handling, or lack of market access. This contrasts with developed countries where food waste is more prevalent at the consumption level due to cultural attitudes towards excess consumption, leading to substantial food being discarded. For example, Americans threw away an estimated $165 billion worth of food in 2014. This wastefulness does not only contribute to economic losses, but also to environmental issues such as the production of methane in landfills, a potent greenhouse gas.
Addressing food waste necessitates different approaches depending on the country's level of development. High-income countries need to focus on reducing waste in processing, distribution, and consumer habits, while low-income countries require improvements in infrastructure to support proper food storage and handling. Furthermore, as the global population grows and agricultural practices continue to put strain on resources and the environment, a global restructuring of food systems is essential to ensure sustainability and food security worldwide. This requires collaboration and a move towards equitable and just resource distribution.