Why is biogas production and not food donation the Swedish political priority for food waste management?

The management of food waste is high on the political agenda. This study will analyze and discuss why biogas production has become the politically prioritized management method for food waste in Sweden, ahead of other alternatives such as donation to people in need. This study shows that biogas is the preferred alternative because food losses are framed as a waste issue, evaluated from an environmental and economic perspective. However, if food losses had been evaluated from a social perspective, and consideration given to the potential of food waste to address food insecurity, the evaluations could well have resulted in other priorities. In practice, there is no conflict between donation and anaerobic digestion of food waste. The edible food waste can be donated, while the inedible waste can be recycled. However, such an approach would require different ambitions and policies, which would bring actors together and ultimately improve the conditions for food donations and people living in food insecurity.