A Polymath Tackles Food Waste

Sauleh Siddiqui is a modern-day Renaissance Man. A professor of Environmental Science at AU’s College of Arts and Sciences, Siddiqui earned his PhD in Applied Mathematics and Statistics. He served as Chief Energy Modeler with the U.S. Energy Information Administration at the Department of Energy. He was an accomplished management consultant. Today, he is the inaugural Director of Multiscale RECIPES for Sustainable Food Systems Research Network, a $15M cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation funding over 15 institutions, 40 faculty, 45 graduate students, and 14 staff from universities and organizations across the country working together to solve the monumental challenge of food waste.

How did a mathematical modeler with a penchant for game theory and policy find himself leading a groundbreaking effort at the intersection of energy, the environment, food systems and human health?

“If you turn on a gas stove, I know where that molecule of natural gas comes from. We can make large scale plans to optimize energy, but we haven’t cracked the code on food waste,” Siddiqui explained. “We need mathematical modelers like me building models to clarify this. I have a genuine interest in inspiring people across diverse disciplines to work together to look at complex problems in new ways.”

A New Approach to Tackle an Age-Old Problem
 

The US wastes 40% of all food, equating to one pound per person per day. The loss impacts are staggering on both nutritional and economic levels. 

Siddiqui leads a network of interdisciplinary researchers, policy makers, farmers, communities, businesses, and other stakeholders along the food production and distribution chains. Together, they are identifying areas of waste and transforming how we create, distribute and maximize food to reduce losses. This is the first nationwide effort at this scale. 

While most food waste occurs on the consumption level, Siddiqui’s team is also working to address vulnerabilities across the distribution and supply chains. Some think it’s too big a problem to solve. Siddiqui believes it’s solvable with new thinking.

This new thinking includes adaptable solutions and bottom-up research that is understood by the people impacted. The team is working closely with stakeholders from farmers to grocery store workers to school administrators, providing training and insights to help them identify and prevent waste by creating better processes. They are going beyond the expected to also address the psychological and social issues related to food waste.

Creating a New Generation of Collaborative Researchers
 

“Math is inherently collaborative,” Siddiqui noted. “What drives me is contributing to an academic system that encourages collaboration. Historically, researchers have been specialized. Today, we are called upon to solve complex challenges which require collaboration across many disciplines. Our efforts are helping young researchers become natural collaborators to solve bigger problems in the future.”

Siddiqui reflects, “I strongly believe that the most important thing scientists produce is other scientists. As individuals, we have a limited about of time. It’s critical that we train a new generation of scientists who continue this work as a community. We have created a blueprint to do this. Researchers are using our framework as models for their work in other areas. The impact is exponential.” 

Only at AU
 

“AU is uniquely suited to lead research like this because collaborative, multi-disciplinary researchers are welcomed, encouraged, and built here. If you want to sit in an office or lab for the rest of your life, AU may not be the place for you. AU’s culture empowers us to work with different people across different disciplines. It helps us thrive while broadening our impact.”

“What brought me to AU was the DC access. I felt at home with the environmental science department which valued interdisciplinary researchers. Within months of arriving at AU, I put together this incredible group focused on solving food waste. I didn’t have established relationships yet, but nine faculty members jumped in to collaborate with me because they understood the value of what we were doing. AU’s President and Provost stood beside me as we pitched the grant to the National Science Foundation. AU is a unique community of faculty, researchers and administrators who are dedicated to serving communities.”

Siddiqui is also working on research ranging from energy policy to clinical trials. “At AU, I am working with wonderful students and colleague who are contributing to the betterment of society and communities. I feel fortunate to lend my expertise to impact different areas of scientific inquiry.”

Siddiqui reflects on the incredible trajectory of his career as he shares advice for budding researchers: “I thought I was going to spend my career in my office solving math problems. I never thought I would be able to have this impact. Part of making an impact is seeing opportunities to make a difference and taking advantage of them. Don’t force yourself into a corner. There is tremendous value in continuous exploration, learning and connecting.”