In Canada, we are lucky to have an abundance of food at our fingertips. From the grocery store to our favourite restaurants, the sheer amount of options Canadians have for wining and dining is incredible. But there is a downside.

Second Harvest and Value Chain Management International has released a Food Waste Report wherein they state that nearly 60 per cent of food produced in Canada is wasted annually. That’s equivalent to 11.2 metric tonnes or $49.46 billion of lost food.

"There is no social, environmental or business case for food waste, and yet it has become standard operating procedure in the food industry, not just in Canada but globally," said Lori Nikkel, CEO, Second Harvest. "But with this research, we all now have the data and the tools to transform this crisis into a triple-bottom-line win across the value chain."

With the help of over 700 anonymous food industry leaders across Canada, the report has identified roughly 30 root causes for the loss and waste. The report also includes a first-of-its-kind solution-focused 30-page roadmap on how to improve in the future. Not only will these changes reduce the overabundance of wasted food in Canada, it is likely to put more food in the bellies of the people that go hungry on a daily basis.

"There is more than enough food produced in Canada and the world that no one ever needs to be hungry. This report provides us with concrete solutions that will allow food to get to those who need it," said Nikkel.