Participation in the EU Platform on Food Losses and Food Waste meeting in Brussels

It is with great interest that we participate in the two-day meeting of the EU Platform on Food Losses and Food Waste, taking place in Brussels on November 7 and 8.

During the first part of our participation, a joint meeting of the members of the Platform and the European Citizens' Panel took place. It is worth noting that food waste was chosen by the European Commission as the first policy area discussed by the Panel. The citizens' panels from all 27 Member States are a new institution of participatory democracy and are convened to address key policy issues at the EU level.

In particular, recommendations developed by the Panel aimed at reducing food waste in the EU were presented, focusing on the following three areas: a) collaborations along the food value chain, b) food business initiatives and c) actions for consumer behavioral change.

This was followed today and tomorrow by the 14th plenary meeting of the EU Platform FLW, convened by the European Commission and in which International Organizations (UN-FAO, UNEP and OSCE), authorities of EU Member States, representative bodies from the entire food value chain, Civil Society Organizations and universities are represented.

At the heart of our work is the assessment of progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 12.3, and respectively initiatives at the global, European and national levels.

On the basis of updated data on food waste levels in the EU at all stages of the chain, as well as the Commission's legislative proposal to set legally binding reduction targets at EU level, we would exchange views on how to set quantitative targets and support Member States in achieving them.

Finally, as in every meeting (and on the sidelines!) we will exchange information and good practices on policies implemented at national and local level, public-private partnerships – voluntary cooperation agreements, actions of food redistribution organizations, studies by universities and research institutions.

It is an honor for Boroume to have been selected as a Member and to be participating since 2016, as well as during the current mandate of the EU Expert Platform.

With enthusiasm and perseverance, in cooperation and coordinated action with all stakeholders, Boroume will continue to contribute to the collective effort to reduce food waste in Greece!