however precise estimations of the size and nature of the energy efficiency gap of the food chain have not yet been calculated in many cases the implementation of these approaches is a winwin situation for the producer as the energy cost reductions achieved through implementation quickly repay the capital investment that is required in the majority of cases a payback time of five years or less can be achieved and for a significant proportion of the technologies the payback is three years or less golaszewski et al moreover important efficiency gains can be achieved without capital investment by introducing procedural and behavioural changes reducing food waste for example provides high potential for energy savings through resource efficiency and offers an important untapped energyefficiency potential which policy could address mehlhart et al