Reducing agricultural loss and food waste: How will nature fare?

With the global population currently over seven billion, and expected to increase to over nine billion in the next 30 years, the race is on to find ways to feed, water and clothe the citizens of the planet (United Nations, 2013). Food security is high on both national and international agendas (Gordon et al., 2012), with a push to increase the production of food by up to 70% in the next 30 years (Food and Agriculture Organization, 2013), and estimates of another one billion ha of land being converted to agriculture, mainly in the tropics (Tilman et al., 2001). The food security agenda may have obvious effects on wildlife species; however, some species may be affected by perverse outcomes that have not yet been assessed. Reduction in loss and waste from agricultural production and food systems (food waste) is one such issue. Here, we highlight the potential impact on species that have become reliant on food waste. These species may be seen currently as pests or vermin; however, the consequences of a reduction in food waste could not only affect them directly, but might also have significant cascading effects across food webs and impact on animal species of conservation importance.