The conference about the food chain held at the Botanical Garden of the Universitat de València was a success.
On Thursday, 26 September 2024, the Botanical Garden of the Universitat de València held a highlighted event under the slogan ‘A future without waste’, organised by the UV Chair for Economy for the Common Good and pushed forward by the consultant S3C Triple Impacto, in collaboration with the Business and Humanism Chair.
The conference gathered a healthy group of experts, researchers and professionals of the food industry to discuss the global challenges related to food loss and wastage. Beatriz Medina, innovation consultant and funder of EVOCA, was in charge of the managing the event, highlighting from the very beginning the collective obligation with food sustainability.
The event was structured into four themed panel discussions, each tackling the problem from a different perspective: ‘Scientific Analysis’, ‘Systematic Vision’, ‘Prevention in the Value Chain’ and ‘Effective Wastage Management’. These discussions had distinguished speakers from the Universitat de València, the Universitat Politècnica de València, Mercavalecia, Consum and other organizations committed with food sustainability.
Panel discussion 1: Scientific Analysis
Moderated by Jaime Güemes, Director of the Botanical Garden and of the Chair for Economy for the Common Good (CatEBC). This panel discussion emphasised the importance of scientific research in the fight against food wastage. In the discussion participated José Miguel Soriano, María Ángeles Fernández-Zamudio and Tatiana Pina, researchers of the Universitat de València and of the Universitat Politècnica de València, who analysed recent data on the magnitude of food wastage and its environmental, social and economical impact. This panel highlighted the needs of integrating academic research with effective public policies.
Panel discussion 2: Systematic Vision
Moderated by Tomás González, from the Business and Humanism Chair, this panel discussion explored a holistic approach involving all value chain participants. Lidia García (Valencia Innovation Capital), Ángeles Hernández (Mercavalencia) and Aida Marín (Hosbec) shared their experiences in the implementation of integrated strategies for the reduction of losses, from the production until the distribution. The panel highlighted the importance of collaboration between producers, retailers and consumers in order to build a more sustainable food system.
Panel discussion 3: Prevention in the Value Chain
Moderated by Juan José Rico de Fedacova, this panel discussion focused on prevention as the most effective way to fight against food wastage. Participants: Elías Amor (Consum), Luis Velasco (Velarte), José Gámiz (Grupo La Plana) and Jordi Górriz (Platos Tradicionales). The speakers detailed how their organisations have implemented innovative practices, from redesigning productive processes to optimising logistics. This session highlighted the importance of teaching consumers as part of the solution.
Panel discussion 4: Effective Wastage Management
The last panel discussion, moderated by Eva Núñez from S3C Triple Impacto, dealt with how to manage already generated wastage, promoting the circular economy and food recovery strategies. The participants, Arantxa Ruiz (Naira), Marise García (Fundación Ayuda una Familia), Juan José Moreno (AENOR) and Corinna Heilmann (Gourmet Catering), shared successful cases in the transformation of wastage into useful resources and in the connection with social initiatives. This panel highlighted the relevance of not wasting any resources and maximising their exploitation.
Closing ceremony and Honorary Wine
The event concluded with a gesture of gratitude to all the participants, followed by a collective picture as a memento of the gathering. Afterwards, the attendees enjoyed the honorary wine offered by Bodegas Vicente Gandía and a catering prepared by Hostelería INTOS, which allowed to continue the exchange of ideas in a relaxed atmosphere.
“Today we have showed that collaboration and innovation are essential to reach a more sustainable future”, Beatriz Medina at the closing ceremony.
With a combination of scientific analysis, innovative proposal and a strong collaborative approach, this conference stablished itself as a role model in the construction of a more efficient and sustainable food chain.
