"Connecting Food Systems in Southern Europe - ""Food Connect"""

ongoing

In the Southern EU region, the food waste crisis from food production to food consumption and distribution, poses a significant challenge, affecting communities, ecology, and economies. Current food waste management practices often lack coordination, efficiency, and uniformity. There is a need for holistic strategies that encompass the entire food system to effectively address this issue, since food waste has additional socio-economic repercussions, as it contradicts efforts to address hunger and food insecurity. LIFE Food Connect is our response to this critical challenge, with three primary objectives: -upscaling a previous LIFE-funded result the “Collaboration Network platform”, -replicating it in several southern EU countries, -raising awareness on food waste and food donation. Upscaling this innovative result includes making it more user-friendly, accessible, and intelligent while developing a comprehensive methodology to replicate and pilot it in 3 southern EU Countries including Portugal, Malta and Cyprus. The project acts as a unifying force, bridging the gap between food waste, the food and hospitality sector, and scientific communities. It aims to create a holistic and adaptable food donation platform where diverse participants, including food donors, beneficiaries, policymakers, and society as a whole, can come together and create a network of collaboration. Within this environment, the project facilitates engagement, discussions between stakeholders, and effective food distribution that is custom-made for each pilot case.