According to FAO estimates, between 30% and 40% of all food production is lost before it reaches the market. Such quantities of leftover organic matter offer enormous resource opportunities as well as possible hazards to human health and the environment if improperly managed. To reduce food losses throughout all accountable sectors—from growers and processors to intermediaries and consumers—an overview of all systems should be carried out.
Agrifood waste can be used strategically to produce additional industrial uses as a co-product that will help the circular economy and bring in profits. According to the European Commission, a “co-product” is any of two or more products coming from the same unit process or product system.
Rather than being treated as waste, these secondary materials are transformed into new value-added products, such as biofuels, biomaterials, fertilisers or food ingredients. This approach helps to reduce waste, reduce dependence on fossil fuels and stimulate a more sustainable and resilient economy. Industries in the chemical and agricultural sectors, among others, must work together to enable the creation of new products and improve co-product characteristics to boost the circular economy.
The fourth CESAM priority topic addresses the valorisation of co-products. This consists of the incorporation of circular processes within the agri-food sector, to process the industry’s waste as raw materials for new products.