REFRESH Results
1. REFRESH Community of Experts – Call for content
In October 2017 the REFRESH Community of Experts (CoE) will be launched, and food waste experts are invited to share their expertise and resources. The CoE is a digital platform for sharing initiatives and best practice on food waste prevention. Users of the CoE will be able to find and share research and resources, initiate discussions and connect with fellow experts. The CoE is created in partnership with the EU Platform on Food Losses and Food Waste (FLW), established by the European Commission.
2. REFRESH interim results presented in brochure
This brochure describes the interim results of the REFRESH (Resource Efficient Food and dRink for the Entire Supply cHain) project through May 2017. REFRESH's research into the behaviours, economics, and relationships that lead to food waste will inform future recommendations into efficient and versatile solutions to food waste at all levels of its production.
3. REFRESH consumer survey – over 3,500 participants
In July 2017, REFRESH reached out to consumers in its four pilot countries (The Netherlands, Germany, Spain and Hungary) to complete a survey on food and drink products. The purpose of the research is to investigate different contents and formats of on-pack information and their effect on consumer understanding and food waste behaviours in these four EU member states. 3,694 persons completed the survey. The results of the survey will be disseminated towards the end of 2017.
4. Top 20 food waste streams
The REFRESH project has evaluated the top 20 EU food waste streams having significant environmental impact. Thirty-seven priority waste streams were reviewed to identify the top streams for modeling and detailed research with regards to valorization.
5. What are the best examples of commercial re-use or recovery of key food by-products in the EU?
As part of REFRESH we are reaching out to capture information for an up-to-date overview of current and best practice commercial examples of re-using or re-processing food sector by-products and wastes. Please contribute knowledge and contacts to the survey by 31 October 2017! Contributing to this survey supports the wider objectives of REFRESH for an efficient and sustainable use of non-preventable food sector by-products.
REFRESH National Platforms
6. REFRESH pilots employee training programme on food waste with German retailer PENNY
In April 2017 an agreement was reached with the German retailer PENNY to conduct an employee training programme as the first German REFRESH pilot project. The objective is to raise the employees' awareness on the general importance of reducing food waste and about measures that can be taken within shops, as well as on how to support customers.
7. Second food waste quantification in the Spanish pilot project 'Gastrofira'
The second quantification activity in the catering service of Fira de Barcelona was carried out in May 2017. This time, the quantification took place in a buffet restaurant, which was visited by around 200 patrons daily during a construction fair. The results of both activities will soon be analyzed, so they can constitute a baseline. With that data, CREDA-UPC-IRTA will be able to draw the conclusions necessary to decide what relevant interventions to implement in Gastrofira's activities in order to reduce food waste in the most effective way.
8. Three pilot projects running in Hungary
The Hungarian Pilot Working Platform has initiated and started executing 3 pilot projects. One is in the fruit and vegetable domain, one is in the event catering sector and one is focusing on food surplus redistribution capacity building.
9. Winners of school food waste solution contest in China
The contest, "Sustainable Development and Our Food – Reducing Food Waste: China Youth Environmental Protection Originality Contest", took place in China. Nearly a thousand innovative works by Chinese pupils reached the organizing committee, varying in forms like videos, paintings, photos, articles, etc. Ten works each were appraised and selected from primary schools and middle schools.
Past Events
10. REFRESH Food Waste 2017: Multi-stakeholder conference connecting champions of food waste prevention, reduction, and valorisation
18 May 2017, Berlin: Keynote addresses were given by Dr. Maria Flachsbarth (Parliamentary State Secretary of the German Federal Ministry for Food and Agriculture) and Vytenis Andriukaitis (European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety). REFRESH partners presented the latest project results and ongoing work. Furthermore, the winners of the REFRESH Food Waste Solution Contest presented their projects. The Conference featured several innovative elements, including an innovator fair, two art installations, an improvisational theatre performance, two real-live pigs and a "Disco Chop" evening. A video summary, presentation slides and a picture gallery are available online.
11. Food Waste Innovation Incubator Day
19 May 2017, Berlin: The aim of this workshop was to bring food waste innovators and experts together to learn from each other, develop solutions to food waste issues in the food chain, and improve cooperation. The participants were entrepreneurs, companies in the food industry, and policy makers. The REFRESH Incubator Day was co-hosted with the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) and their initiative "Too good for the bin!". The event was carried out in collaboration with the Food Waste Innovators Network - FoodWIN (formerly: Food Surplus Entrepreneurs Network). Minutes, presentations, photos and the programme can be downloaded.
12. REFRESH Frameworks for Action presented at EU Platform on Food Losses and Food Waste
In June 2017 the 2nd meeting of the EU Platform on Food Losses and Food Waste (FLW), organised by DG Health and Food Safety, was held. REFRESH coordinator Toine Timmermans, together with Kate Bygrave who leads the work setting up 'Frameworks for Action', presented the RFERESH project, its establishment of national frameworks for action, success factors and recent developments within the national platforms of Germany, Hungary, Spain, and the Netherlands.
13. 3rd REFRESH General Council Meeting in Budapest
All 26 REFRESH partners gathered to discuss midterm progress in the project and build synergies between work in different parts of REFRESH. The meeting took place in Budapest on 7 and 8 September 2017.
Upcoming Events
14. Harnessing Research and Innovation for FOOD 2030
16 October 2017, Brussels: This one day conference will serve to disseminate successful European Research and Innovation (R&I) initiatives and contribute to the ongoing science-policy dialogue in the area of Food Nutrition and Security.
15. Total Food 2017
31 October to 2 November 2017, Norwich UK: Total Food 2017 is an international conference exploring the latest breakthroughs in research into better ways of exploiting waste and co-products from agriculture and food production, thereby helping to minimise waste.
16. EU Platform on Food Losses and Food Waste Meeting
7 November 2017, Brussels: The EU Platform on Food Losses and Food Waste will hold its second meeting of 2017 on 7 November in Brussels. Participation is limited to members of the Platform. The EU Platform on Food Losses and Food Waste is an initiative of the European Commission and aims to support all actors in: defining measures needed to prevent food waste; sharing best practice; and evaluating progress made over time.
17. Impacts of EU policies on food waste and windows of opportunity: REFRESH Policy Workshop
8 November 2017, Brussels: This workshop will present preliminary findings from the REFRESH project on opportunities for improving EU policies relevant to food waste prevention and valorisation. It is directed at policymakers and high-level experts in food waste from business, research, and civil society. Participation is by invitation only.
18. Horizon 2020 Societal Challenge 2 Infoweek including high-level policy events
14 to 17 November 2017, Brussels: The Horizon 2020 Societal Challenge 2 Infoweek will take place in Brussels from 14 to 17 November 2017. The week-long event brings together infoday, brokerage, dissemination with a focus on digitisation and a high-level bioeconomy policy event. REFRESH will be presented at the "Bioeconomy Village" during the policy days on 16 and 17 November.
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About REFRESH
REFRESH (Resource Efficient Food and dRink for Entire Supply cHain) is an EU research project taking action against food waste. 26 partners from 12 European countries and China work towards the project's goal to contribute towards Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 of halving per capita food waste at the retail and consumer level and reducing food losses along production and supply chains, reducing waste management costs, and maximizing the value from un-avoidable food waste and packaging materials. Read more ...
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REFRESH Newsletter
Publisher: Ecologic Institute, Pfalzburger Str. 43/44, 10717 Berlin
Editor: Stephanie Wunder, Ecologic Institute, Pfalzburger Str. 43/44, 10717 Berlin
Legal Notice: http://eu-refresh.org/legal-notice
Contact: info@eu-refresh.org
Website: http://eu-refresh.org
