Monthly news from the members of the EU Platform on Food Losses and Food Waste (14/05/2020)

April has been a busy month for members of the EU Platform on Food Losses and Food Waste, and many of their actions have been taken in relation to COVID-19. Initiatives carried out in April 2020 focused on food redistribution, awareness raising activities, educational materials for schools, as well as food waste measurement. We wish you a pleasant reading!

The Platform’s key recommendations in 23 languages (17/05/2020)

The Platform’s key recommendations for action in food waste prevention are now translated into 23 languages.

Austria (13/05/2020)

Voluntary Agreement between government authorities and retailers, school competition on waste prevention, food waste prevention initiative by WWF Austria and other initiatives.

Denmark (13/05/2020)

The Danish Minister for Food, Fisheries and Equal Opportunities designated September 29 2020 as the first official ‘National Food Waste Day’ aligned with the ‘International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste’ designated by the United Nations General Assembly.

France (13/05/2020)

Report on the ‘Indicators and Measurements’ working group of the National Pact against food waste and Guidance on food redistribution during COVID-19.

Hungary (13/05/2020)

During the COVID-19 crisis, several online education materials were distributed to children through the Wasteless campaign (Maradék nélkül), organized by the National Food Chain Safety Office of Hungary and co-funded by the EU-LIFE Programme. Also, a drawing contest about food waste prevention was launched in April, targeting school children.

Ireland (13/05/2020)

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advanced an online communications campaign to raise Irish citizens’ awareness of making the most of their food during the current crisis.

Norway (13/05/2020)

Creation of healthy and nutritious ready-made meals for distribution during COVID-19.

Portugal (13/05/2020)

Guidance in food donation during COVID-19 by the National Commission for Combating Food Waste and the NGO DariAcordar and extension of food donation possibilities to avoid food waste at production level during COVID-19.

Copa Cogeca (13/05/2020)

Sharing food recipes during the COVID-19 crisis.

Eurocoop (13/05/2020)

Pre-packed “Fast Boxes” by Too Good To Go and retailers, among which Coop Italy; Donation of food to the food banks by Eroski Spain; Donation of dog food by Coop Norway; The Co-operative Group at UK scraps Easter ad in favour of scheme to feed the hungry.

European Food Banks Federation (13/05/2020)

Quantifying the Impact of European Food Banks (Data Collection Project) and European Food Banks’ initiatives to prevent food waste.

Slowfood (13/05/2020)

The Slow Food Youth Network’s (SFYN) annual World Disco Soup Day (WDSD) took place on April 25th 2020 – in a totally different (due to the COVID-19 social distancing measures), but equally inspiring way!

Stop Wasting Food, Denmark (13/05/2020)

‘Green advice’ to consumers to avoid food waste during COVID-19.

WRAP (14/05/2020)

New guidance to encourage food redistribution, 'Love Food Hate Waste' COVID-19 Communications Pack, WRAP research indicating that citizens learn to love food and hate waste during lockdown and comparison of diaries and waste compositional analysis for measuring food waste at home.

European Commission (13/05/2020)

The Commission is taking swift action and proposes exceptional measures to further support agricultural and food markets most affected by the COVID-19 crisis.

EIT Food: RisingFoodStars Network (17/05/2020)

The pan-European network EIT Food RisingFoodStars is opening for the fourth year 20 places for high-potential agrifood scale-ups to access the network and the opportunity to actively engage in EIT Food’s activities.