EU embarks on the Refresh project to reduce food waste

Several European countries and China have partnered to work towards the reduction of food wastage across Europe by 30% by the end of 2025.

The project, called Resource Efficient Food and Drink for the Entire Supply Chain, or Refresh, will run from 2015 to 2019, and involves 26 partners from 12 EU countries.

As per 2012 estimates, approximately 100 million tonnes of food is wasted across Europe annually.

There are fears that the figure will reach 120 million tonnes by 2020.

Refresh will focus on the reduction of this waste.

Being funded by EU Horizon 2020, Refresh will work towards this goal through a holistic ‘Framework for Action’.

The programme will initiate strategic agreements with governments, businesses and local stakeholders in four pilot countries; namely Spain, Germany, Hungary, and the Netherlands.

Local communities in the four countries will be encouraged to test new approaches to reduce food waste.

Refresh will also play a role in formulating EU policy recommendations, and support national implementation of food waste policy frameworks.

Led by the Dutch university and research centre Wageningen UR, the Refresh team constitutes leading universities, research institutes, private businesses, governments, civil societies, and other stakeholders from accross Europe and China.

Last week, the US has announced its first-ever national goal to cut food waste by 50% by 2030.

Food loss and waste in the US is estimated to be approximately 31% (133 billion pounds) of the overall food supply available to retailers and consumers.

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Image: EU partners with China to start off the Refresh project. Photo: courtesy by REFRESH & Ecologic Institute