1
Drafting Methods Section
I conducted a textual analysis in order to examine how food waste can be effectively
repurposed into sustainable animal feed and to identify the economic, environmental, and
regulatory factors influencing its widespread adoption. This method was chosen to allow for an
in-depth evaluation of existing literature, policy documents, and case studies rather than
collecting new data from human subjects.
I studied seventeen scholarly articles, government policy documents, and industry reports
published within the last ten years, all of which were selected for their relevance to food waste
management, sustainable agriculture, and regulatory frameworks. These sources were identified
through academic databases such as JSTOR, Google Scholar, and Science Direct using keywords
like “food waste animal feed,” “sustainable agriculture,” and “regulatory challenges food
recycling.” I chose this range and type of material because it provided diverse and credible
insights from environmental scientists, economists, and policymakers.
In my analysis, I looked for key themes related to environmental impacts, economic
feasibility, legal constraints, and public perception. These themes were important because they
aligned directly with the components of my research question. For example, I examined
statements in policy papers that outlined restrictions on using post-consumer food waste as
livestock feed because these help explain barriers to adoption. I also analyzed case studies
highlighting companies that successfully implemented food waste-to-feed models to identify
practical strategies for implementation.
2
By conducting this study, I wanted to find out whether and how food waste can be turned
into a viable feed source while navigating economic and legal systems, ultimately contributing to
the reduction of food waste and the promotion of sustainable agriculture.