Within the EU, 5 tonnes of waste is produced on average each year and only 38% is recycled. Among these numbers and according to Eurostat, in 2023 over 58 million tonnes of food waste (131 kg/inhabitant) were generated, with an associated market value of 132 billion euros (according to the European Commission Working Staff Working Document (2023)421). The European Commission has urged Member States to put in place national programs aimed at preventing food waste and, more crucially, to monitor and report on food waste levels as well as minimize food waste at every stage of the supply chain.
To redesign our food systems and engage on a sustainable and resilient path, the EU promotes a “Farm to fork” strategy that aims at creating a food chain that benefits producers, consumers, the environment, and the climate with the following recommendations: guaranteeing a neutral or favorable environmental impact along all the processes (food production, transportation, distribution, marketing, and consumption), ensuring that food processes meet strict requirements for quality, safety, and care about the welfare of animals as well as plants, and maintaining sustainable food affordability while redistributing in an equitable way financial returns across the supply chain, boosting fair trade and therefore the EU supply sector’s competitiveness. This optimisation also involves integrating new technologies, such as automation, artificial intelligence and advanced sensors, to control and maximise the efficiency of production processes.
The third priority of CESAM addresses the reduction of waste in the agri-food sector. Seeking to foster the development of new solutions for optimizing the processes and the incorporation of circular processes in the agri-food industry. This priority is intended for Agri-food companies that are investing in energy and resource management systems, as well as waste reduction techniques, to minimise their environmental impact while improving profitability.