Food wastage management at the South African Military Academy officer’s mess

Abstract

Globally, an estimated one-third of the total of food produced for human consumption
is never consumed. This affects food security. South Africa has obligations to meet
international commitments to reduce food wastage. The United Nations Sustainable
Development Goal (SDG) 12.3 aims to reduce food loss through wastage by 30 per cent
by 2030. To contribute to the achievement of this goal, South Africa has to formulate
policies to reduce food loss to achieve national food security. The South African
National Defence Force (SANDF), as an organ of the state, should align with national
policies aimed at reducing food loss and waste. The current study was conducted at the
South African Military Academy (SAMA), an institution of higher learning for SANDF
members. The institution has a catering facility that serves approximately 350 resident
students and other living-in members375 daily. To date, no research has been done on
food wastage management either in the broader SANDF or at this institution. This
lack of information and analysis on food wastage management in the military in South
Africa prompted the current research. The study analysed food wastage management at
the SAMA mess to identify the level of knowledge and skills of SAMA officers’ mess
personnel regarding the status of food wastage and best management practices. Through
this qualitative study, online semi-structured interviews, using Microsoft Teams, were
utilised to collect data from SAMA mess personnel. The findings revealed that there are
set measures in place at the SAMA mess for managing food wastage, such as booking
meals in advance and being able to repurpose food. The participants also indicated that
most SAMA chefs are trained in food wastage management and possess the necessary
skills to reduce food wastage in the mess; yet, not optimally so. Recommendations from
this research are that more and improved training of personnel, as well as awareness
programmes among mess staff and SAMA students would further reduce food wastage.
Implementing such food wastage management measures would benefit the SAMA
and the SANDF, and would contribute to national food wastage management and the
realisation of the United Nations SDG 12.3.