FOSC ERA-Net on Food Systems and Climate

Part of EU Open Research Repository
Published January 4, 2025 | Version v1
Publication Open

Is 'waste' an appropriate concept in a sustainable bioeconomy?

Authors/Creators

  • 1. ROR icon University College Dublin
  • 2. ROR icon University of Greenwich
  • 3. Bay Zoltan Nonprofit Ltd. for Applied Research
  • 4. Higher School of Food Science and Agri-Food Industry. Lab of Food, Processing, Control and Agroressources Valorization
  • 5. University of Bergen
  • 6. ROR icon KU Leuven
  • 7. ROR icon Dedan Kimathi University of Technology

Description

Valorisation of agri-food waste is a key component in building sustainable circular food systems. Within this context, eight projects supported by the European Research Area Network Cofund Food Systems and Climate (FOSC) and the SUSFOOD2 ERA-Net Cofund focused on transforming waste from primary production and food processing into valuable resources. These projects identified significant barriers—technological, socio-economic, legislative, and institutional—that hinder the development of circular food systems. Overcoming these challenges requires a holistic, multi-stakeholder approach, including supportive policy frameworks and regulatory adjustments. A central insight from these projects is the need to rethink the concept of "waste" and instead view agri-food residues as side streams with potential for valorisation into food and feed products, provided their safety for re-entry into the food chain can be assured.

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Additional details

Funding

European Commission
FOSC - Food System and Climate (FOSC): Assessing the impact of climate change on food and nutrition security and designing more sustainable and resilient food systems in Europe and beyond 862555