The scale, determinants, and impacts of food waste in rural China

Household food waste is a critical barrier to sustainability, yet research has largely focused on urban settings, leaving rural households underexplored despite rapid economic development and dietary transitions. Here, we aim to investigate the scale, determinants, and impacts of rural food waste using empirical survey data from 1,284 households across five provincial-level regions in China. We found that food waste averaged 10 g/cap/meal in rural households, with 76.2% plant-based and 23.8% animal-based. Notably, 41% of households generated no waste during a three-day observation, indicating substantial heterogeneity in waste behavior. The environmental impacts are considerable, including 2.7 million tons of carbon emissions, 407 billion m 3 of water use, 49.3 billion m 2 of land use, and significant nutrient emissions contributing to eutrophication. Econometric analysis shows that household size and education reduce waste, whereas higher income, greater dietary diversity, internet use, labor migration, and the presence of chronically ill members increase waste. These findings reveal distinct patterns and drivers of rural household food waste, contrasting with urban contexts. They underscore the urgency of integrating education, infrastructure support, and behavioral interventions into rural food security strategies, linking national sustainability goals with global efforts to reduce food waste. • A large-scale survey of 1284 rural households across five provinces in China was conducted. • Rural household food waste averaged 10 g/person/meal in China. • Nutritional losses reached 18.8 kcal/person/meal, threating dietary adequacy. • Environmental impacts were pronounced, including 52.8 kg CO 2 /person/year. • Education, income, migration, and dietary diversity shaped food waste behaviors in rural China.