Episode 17: Can We Eliminate Food Waste?

Overview

Lori Nikkel brings a unique and pragmatic lens to Canada's complex food landscape. As CEO of Second Harvest, she has spent years mapping the intricate pathways of food production, distribution, and loss, developing insights that challenge conventional approaches to food security and waste management.

The conversation reveals food waste not as an isolated problem, but as a symptom of broader systemic failures. With $58 billion worth of food lost annually, Nikkel argues that the challenge requires more than charitable intervention—it demands a comprehensive national strategy that standardizes measurement, incentivizes efficiency, and fundamentally reimagines how food moves through Canadian supply chains.

Central to Nikkel's approach is a commitment to dignity and human-centered design. She emphasizes that food access is about more than calories; it's about creating systems that respect individual experience and provide meaningful support. By highlighting the 61,000 diverse access points where Canadians encounter food support—from addiction treatment centers to school programs—she illustrates the complexity of food insecurity and the need for nuanced, empathetic solutions.

Listeners will come away with a deeper understanding of food waste as a solvable challenge. Nikkel offers concrete examples of progress, from evolving best-before date practices to developing national food waste management standards, demonstrating that systematic change is possible when stakeholders collaborate with clear, measurable goals.

Key themes

• measuring food waste
• dignity in food access
• food waste standards
• systemic solutions
• food infrastructure
• consumer awareness
• policy transformation