English version: Diana Taborda
Vanessa Magalhães, professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the University of Coimbra (FCTUC) has received the EFMD Global 2022 Outstanding Doctoral Research Award (ODRA) for her doctoral thesis “Framework development for the prevention of food loss and waste: An analysis along the fresh food supply chain”.
The awarded research was developed with the goal of "contributing to better understand food loss and waste along the supply chains of fresh products and providing a framework to guide future research aimed at establishing effective mitigation strategies," says Vanessa Magalhães.
The results of this research work concluded that logistical issues are the main reasons for food loss and waste in the fruit, vegetable and beef supply chains. In addition, the thesis also highlights "the role of information management to improve the communication flow along the supply chain and ensure that the decision-making process is supported by real-time adequate information, thus promoting the reduction of food loss and food waste along the chain", explains the researcher.
Founded in 1972, EFMD is a global, non-profit, membership-driven organisation dedicated to management development. It is recognised worldwide as an accreditation body for business schools, business school programmes, and corporate universities.