Food loss in the agricultural sector of a developing country: Transitioning to a more sustainable approach. The case of Jalisco, Mexico

•The mean food loss in the agricultural sector of the Mexican state of Jalisco is estimated to be 14%.•Small producers reported higher levels of FL than medium-size and large producers.•The main causes of FL are found to be pests, diseases, weather conditions and market failures.•This is the first study to examine farmers’ perspectives on FL in Jalisco, Mexico.•An analysis of the environmental, economic, socio-cultural factors involved in FL is presented. World hunger, food insecurity and climate change are some of the most complex problems related to food systems, and there is an urgency to reform these systems with long-term sustainability in mind. The minimization of food loss (FL) is one of the main contemporary challenges required to achieve food security and a sustainable food system. Information about FL in the primary production of developing countries is scarce, yet it is precisely these countries that have less support in preventing FL. The research herein focuses on estimating FL and characterizing its main causes in the agricultural sector of the agri-food giant Mexican state of Jalisco. This work uses a self-reported approach to survey and interview producers of the state's core crops (including corn, sugarcane, agave, tomato, avocado and banana). The mean FL was found to be 14.0%, which is lower than previously reported for developing countries. FL, in the agricultural sector, was attributed mainly to pests and weather conditions, followed by market failures or inadequate marketing systems. FL variations were found to be dependent on the type of producer and crop. FL values were lower for large producers and for products with high international demand. Smaller producers generally reported higher FL values due to a lack of trained personnel and low application of technological practices or equipment. The transdisciplinary approach used here also led to solutions, which can be a key step to mitigating FL and to transitioning to a more sustainable approach. In developing countries, such as Mexico, it is important to create more and better connections between producers and institutions dedicated to avoiding FL.