FOOD WASTE LINKED TO SYSTEMIC SUPPLY CHAIN PRACTICES
SCHOOL : QUT Business School Queensland University of Technology (QUT) COUNTRY : Australia
Supply chain practices could be contributing to food loss and waste, according to a study from QUT Business School. The study examined a range of supply chain dynamics in Australia, including contracting, data transparency and overproduction, to determine potential influence on food waste outcomes. In so doing, the study authors carried out interviews with supply chain stakeholders and delved into potential solutions, with a primary focus on the horticulture and bakery sectors. It found that a number of systemic issues, such as market imbalances, a lack of transparency and limitations in regulatory codes, are contributing to inefficiencies and surplus food that often goes to waste. “These are everyday practices that have become normalised in our food system but they’re quietly fuelling waste at a massive scale and they’re contributing to a system where food is grown, harvested and then discarded – not because it’s inedible, but because of how business is done.” said study lead and QUT associate professor Bree Hurst. However, the report also suggests that a combination of industry and government action could reduce Australia’s total food waste by 470,000 tonnes over 10 years, based on modelling from the country’s 2021 National Food Waste Strategy Feasibility Study . The necessary steps to achieve this figure include bans on unfair trading practices, mandatory improvements to industry codes and better data transparency. “By developing an understanding of how and why trading practices are impacting food loss and waste and identifying who has the power to affect change, we hope to help mitigate their impact,” added Hurst. Understanding How Trading Practices Affect Food Loss and Waste in Australia was produced and published in collaboration with the End Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre. TBD
A new study has shown that when a critical mass of audience numbers is reached on synchronous online content platforms it inhibits user participation, rather than increasing it. The study found that when large numbers join streaming platforms, such as Twitch and YouTube Live, the experience starts to feel erratic, with lots of people talking about different things. This can make people disengage from the conversation and create an emotional polarity that further diminishes the desire of participants to continue. “There is a limit when everyone is trying to shout in the channel. It’s like someone is taking an online class and every student is trying to ask a question and shout at the teacher in the Zoom chat. It’s probably not going to work very well,” suggested study co-author and associate dean for research at Miami Herbert Business School Kevin Hong. Entitled Lost in the Crowd: How Group Size and Content Moderation Shape User Engagement in Livestreaming and published in Information Systems Research , the study drew on data from 7,074 Twitch playbacks and accompanying chat history. “Researchers have been studying asynchronous content platforms for the last 20 years. The synchronous platforms have only started to emerge in the past few years, so there’s limited understanding of them,” clarified Hong. The study then considered how issues caused by overcrowding on livestreams can be negated with the use of moderators. While human moderators can help deal with some surges of comments and interactions, particularly in relation to any polarity of opinion, Hong reasoned, they would be unable to deal with large numbers of people. The ensuing suggestion is that AI bots could be the way forward. While the Miami Herbert associate dean admitted that the current functionality of AI bot moderators is somewhat limited, he believes they are getting better, making them a good option to help enhance livestreaming experiences. EB LOST IN THE DIGITAL CROWD: THE LIMITS OF LIVESTREAMING SCHOOL : Miami Herbert Business School University of Miami COUNTRY : US
10 Ambition • ISSUE 4 • 2025
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