Wasted Food Research
Since 2015, when the Mitchell Center Materials Management team was created, wasted food has been the single largest component of Maine’s solid waste stream.
Research shows that ending wasted food and food loss will have major financial, social, and environmental benefits. The Mitchell Center wasted food research seeks to gather dataÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýadvance knowledge around Maine wasted food solutions.
Read our original Maine Wasted Food Management Research:
Student and Faculty Research Projects:
Grant-funded, real-world research that seeks to advance knowledge around wasted food solutions.
- (2018/19, DDSF and IURC). PI: Cindy Isenhour
- Â (2018/20, Environmental Research and Education Foundation). PI: Jean MacRae
- Â (2019/20, IURC). PI:Â Debbie Saber
- Â (2019/20, Mitchell Center). PI: Susanne Lee
- Increasing Maine Consumer Food Waste Education and Awareness (2020/2022, Maine DEP). PI: Susanne Lee
- Building Maine’s Circular (Zero-Waste) Food System Infrastructure (2021/2022, RRF). PI: Jesse Minor, Susanne Lee
Mitchell Center Wasted Food Research Products
Real-world, research-based products (academic articles, scholarly papers, and public policy) that put wasted food knowledge into action.
Academic Publications
- Saber, D. A., & Silka, L. (2020).Ìý.ÌýJournal of Social Issues,Ìý76(1), 114-122.
- Saber, D. A., Azizi, R., Dreyer, S., Sanford, D., & Nadeau, H. (2022). OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 27(1).
- Thakali, A., & MacRae, J. D. (2021)..ÌýEnvironmental Research,Ìý194, 110635
Theses
- DiSpirito, Dominique Danielle. (2022).Ìý.ÌýHonors College. 733.Ìý
Reports
- Rivet-Prefontaine, Louis (2025). . Food Rescue MAINE, Mitchell Center Research Report
