AREFLH is a partner of LOWINFOOD, a project that focuses on “Multi-actor design of low-waste food value chains through the demonstration of innovative solutions to reduce food loss and waste”. LOWINFOOD supports the reduction of the loss and waste in the European Union by demonstrating innovative solutions following a multi-actor approach along the entire value chain.
At the Retaste Conference, the University of Tuscia presented the results of a study carried out by LOWINFOOD about the platform that donates surplus food to qualified charities.
This platform facilitates surplus food donations to charities by individual producers’ organizations and producer associations, providing regulated prices for the withdrawn products. The platform, operational since 2012, has gradually expanded to include 50 organizations and associations from different Italian regions. Over this period, more than 36.000 tons of fresh fruits and vegetables were withdrawn from the market and distributed to charities, with the value of donated food exceeding 10 million euros per year. This represents a significant social benefit and economic return for farmers.
The analysis covers the period from 2012-2022 and the evaluation of the performance of the platform using the food waste prevention calculator developed, which allows for consistent assessment of economic and environmental benefits. The results indicate a significant contribution to economic and environmental sustainability by optimizing surplus food use.
Furthermore, the researchers conducted an economic and environmental benefits assessment considering three scenarios:
- full donation, where all withdrawn food is donated to charities.
- mixed-use, with half of the withdrawn food being donated, and the other half being used for valorization purpuse
- and a waste management where minimal surplus is withdrawn and redistributed, and where food waste is mainly disposed of.
The results indicated that the full donation scenario presented the highest net environmental savings, with significant reductions in emissions and resource use, whereas the waste management scenario showed negative impacts, with increased cost for disposal and lost benefits from donation and valorization.
To learn more about this study, click here.
For more information about the project, visit the following media :
This project receives funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement No.101000439
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