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

Introduction

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.

Project Overview

LIFE Food Connect is our response to this critical challenge, with three primary objectives:

1. Upscaling a previous LIFE-funded result, the Collaboration Network platform.
2. Replicating it in several southern EU countries.
3. Raising awareness on food waste and food donation.

Upscaling and Methodology

Upscaling this innovative result includes making it more user-friendly, accessible, and intelligent while developing a comprehensive methodology to replicate and pilot it in three southern EU countries, including Portugal, Malta, and Cyprus.

Unifying Force

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.

Engagement and Distribution

Within this environment, the project facilitates engagement, discussions between stakeholders, and effective food distribution that is custom-made for each pilot case.