New national research examining how businesses in New Zealand’s food sector perceive and manage food waste has been launched today.

The NZ Business Food Waste Survey, led by Kai Commitment with funding from AGMARDT, will canvas the views and actions of medium and large organisations, filling a crucial data gap in how food waste is prioritised and managed by New Zealand’s food sector.

“Food waste costs businesses millions each year, prevents food from reaching people who need it, and contributes to climate change either through driving overproduction or from the methane that comes from food waste in landfills,” says Kaitlin Dawson, Executive Director of Kai Commitment. “As a country, we are lacking credible data and a landscape view on how food waste is prioritised and addressed within business strategies and supply chains.

“You can’t solve what you can’t see,” says Dawson. “Food waste is often hidden across supply chains and tackled through many small but important actions by businesses, often requiring collaboration. This survey will help reveal where the biggest opportunities lie and where barriers need to be addressed.”

Dawson says that Kai Commitment, alongside its independent research partner, will be proactively approaching businesses across the sector to take the 10-minute survey. Companies are also welcome to register their interest directly via the project website.

She notes that the survey will not capture exact quantities of food waste; instead, the focus is on understanding how businesses view and manage the issue.

“This survey won’t measure volumes of waste yet, but that’s a direction we hope to pursue in future projects,” Dawson says. “Right now, this is a vital first step. Without a clear picture of what’s happening already, it makes targeting policies, funding and action far more difficult.”

Findings will be published early 2026 in a Sector Insights Report, highlighting opportunities and challenges for businesses and government, and informing practical action and policy development.

Learn more and register.

For more information or further comment, please contact:

Saraid Black 0274 732 211 or [email protected]