From Barn to Processor: Reducing Upstream Food Loss in the U.S. Dairy Supply Chain

ReFED | July 15, 2026

ReFED, supported by the Global Methane Hub and Robertson Foundation, commissioned World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to conduct a comprehensive assessment of upstream food loss in U.S. beef and dairy systems from a structured review of 91 peer-reviewed scientific papers and technical reports from both U.S. and international sources, alongside 14 primary interviews, including producers, haulers, processors, auction barns, and harvest facilities. The analysis synthesizes the most current available data on upstream U.S. beef and dairy losses. Bringing together quantitative and qualitative evidence is a necessary first step toward estimating the scale of food loss in U.S. dairy production, its economic and environmental costs, and where targeted solutions can meaningfully reduce those impacts.

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