Lab exchange and seminars in France and Italy

FORTHEM Lab: Sustainable food consumption, waste valorization, and shelf-life improvement for the sustainable development of the agri-food supply chain, from September 16th to 28th, 2024, in Dijon (France seminar on the 19th) and Palermo/Trapani (Sicily seminar on the 27th).

04/10/2024
Seminars

Two seminars were organized both in France and Italy with the goal of sharing the latest discoveries on sustainability for the fish industry. The circular economy (an essential part of sustainable development) was explained to the public through the example of the fish industry.

 

Lab exchange and seminars in France and Italy to promote the circular economy for the fish industry

The seminars were given by Rosaria Arena and Clément Poulain, two PhD students working around sustainability and reuse of waste in the agrifood sector. The presentations were mostly attended by students working in the food sector. The discussions opened on the European green deal and its objectives. After a short introduction of each main goals the subject was focused on agri-food sector and several ways to tackle food waste were presented. The different regulations and actions undertaken by EU were explained to the public through the lenses of circular economy and its effects.

Understanding the circular economy: reducing waste and maximizing resources

The circular economy is an alternative to our actual model of linear economy. In the linear economy you take, you make then you produce trash. In a circular economy, industry is focused on services rather than just products. This was illustrated by our use of food packaging. Think about a water bottle: you take the oil, produce the plastic, fill it with water then you put it in the trash (hopefully not in the sea) after consuming the water. A plastic packaging has a really limited use time but it can last centuries if not discarded properly. Attaining circular economy is creating loops : we reuse things that would otherwise be waste in order to give them a second life. Then a third ! Multiple ways exist to help, and every consumer can participate in it by recycling, reusing, repairing. You can even just refill your bottle!

Key takeaways from the seminars

In a same fashion the circular economy with the fish supply chain was described. Attendees were shown ways to reduce their impact when eating fish (which is an important part of the Mediterranean diet) and how to act by recognizing sustainable options. Overfishing, its consequences and solutions were discussed with students while explaining the work of several researchers working on these topics.

These exchanges also helped to develop collaborations within the MEDIET4ALL project. We are now testing the efficiency of fish coproduct to optimize the packaging for MEDIET4ALL food recipes. With the first experiments on the go, it was the beginning of more work to bring new sustainable systems!

The European HE-Prima  MEDIET4ALL project aimed at enabling the transition from an ultra-processed food culture to a modern, more sustainable diet based on good practice. The aim of this transnational project is to promote the Mediterranean diet through innovative solutions, bringing together producers, industry and research laboratories. In this light it is necessary to inform the consumer about the good practices needed to reduce food waste and to support sustainable food production.

This exchange project is all about reducing food waste in a way that benefits us all. It’s in line with the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which is focused on making agri-food production processes more efficient and promoting mindful consumption. This is a great way to tackle the societal pressure to reduce food waste and support sustainable development. Strategies for valorizing and managing agri-food supply chains are key to achieving these goals, and we’re on our way to making a real difference!

 
by Clément Poulain, University of Burgundy

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