Sustainable Network for agrofood loss and waste prevention, management, quantification and valorisation

Food loss and waste (FLW) is a global challenge recognised by international governments and organisations. Reducing FLW is key to sustainably ensure nutritional food security for an increasing world population. It is a target of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, and the Farm to Fork Strategy of the European Green Deal. The FoodWaStop COST project addresses these challenges and aims to: (i) build an interdisciplinary and multi-actor European Network that will also connect with non-EU Mediterranean countries, to promote knowledge on FLW beyond the state of the art; (ii) determine incidence of FLW in the critical points of the fruit and vegetable value chain; (iii) foster technological
innovations and sustainable management strategies to reduce and prevent FLW; and (iv) valorise agrofood waste to promote a circular bio-economy. The experience of the Coordinators and Participants gained from other related projects (e.g., PRIMA, H2020), the background from diverse EU and extra-EU countries, and the involvement of stakeholders and industry partners will contribute to increase awareness of this problem, to determine its incidence, to seek strategies for its management through exploitation of the potential of innovative technologies, and to define good practices to prevent FLW. The FoodWaStop Network will provide benefits to various stakeholders and end-users, including all actors in the agrofood value chain, from farmers (Farm) to consumers (Fork). Moreover, FoodWaStop will create a knowledge platform that will promote innovation, deliver guidelines, and favour dialogue with policymakers, to focus their attention on the social and economic implications of FLW.