Originally published in SDU’s Waar & Wet magazine in March 2024. The article, co-written with Dr Alie de Boer, distills key takeaways from my PhD research for anyone keen on reading about how entrepreneurs in the Netherlands have been navigating regulatory and commercial hurdles while paving the way for a strong and economically viable circular […]
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Chapter published in December 2023 in the book ‘Law in the EU’s Circular Energy System‘, edited by Lucila de Almeida and Josephine van Zeben. If you do not have institutional access and would like to read this chapter, please reach out to me. Abstract Waste and surplus from various stages of the food supply chain can be […]
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Originally published on Wikifarmer.com in December 2023. When food is wasted instead of being used for human consumption, we face issues such as food insecurity and malnutrition, loss of natural resources, as well as the expansion of landfills, and emission of greenhouse gasses. As a result, reducing food waste has become a priority for most […]
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On the 28th of November 2023, I defended my PhD thesis ‘Safe and Sustainable Valorisation of Food Waste in the Netherlands – Reconciling Public Ambitions with Private Interests’ at Maastricht University. The ceremony entailed a brief presentation of my research, followed by a lively discussion with the committee members, and finally, the conferral of the […]
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In November 2023, I was invited to speak at Asia–Europe Foundation’s annual ENVForum conference. This year, the theme of the conference was ‘SMEs at the Heart of Circular Transition’. I presented observations from my PhD research during the session on agri-food SMEs. Summarising my own contributions as well as those of my fellow panelists Dr […]
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Written for the blog of the American Anthropological Association’s Committee for the Anthropology of Science, Technology, and Computing (CASTAC). Originally published on blog.castac.org in November 2023. Header image credit: Humyara Mahbub for ABC Everyday. Content and Trigger Warning: This post contains commentary and reflections about disordered eating. Food(ie) Fixation In September 2019, I responded to an […]
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Published Open Access in Food and Agricultural Economics in September 2023. View full text here. Title Understanding the phenomenon of food waste valorisation from the perspective of supply chain actors engaged in it Abstract The repurposing of surplus food and food processing by-products is a key aspect of the shift towards a circular bioeconomy. In […]
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Header image credit: UNDP Climate Promise On May 30 2023, I delivered a (virtual) lecture on food waste valorisation in circular economy to graduate students of the Federal University of Bahia, Brazil. I was invited by Prof. Nelson Barros Colauto who coordinates the University’s efforts towards internationalisation. The lecture can be viewed on YouTube using […]
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On May 26 2023, I joined the ‘Future of Food Law’ conference organised by the Law Group of Wageningen University. At the conference, I had the opportunity to present my work entitled ‘Moving towards circularity or running around in circles? A critical evaluation of the regulatory framework for food waste valorisation in the European Union’. […]
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Profile published in Seema Magazine in January 2023 Madhura Rao, an expert on food law and policy, explores ways to gauge the cost of food waste Researcher, science communicator and educator Madhura Rao writes about the latest developments in food science and technology. But at heart, she admits, she is a foodie. Her professional endeavors […]
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Madhura Rao 