CEFoodCycle 
Circular Economy: Mapping Food Streams and Identifying Potentials to Close the Food Cycle
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Overview

To tackle food waste, for instance in the hospitality sector, there is a great potential for resource related to food overproduction or packaging. The overall objective is the implementation of Circular Economy Hubs in the food sector in five alpine pilot regions to identify potentials for food waste and CO2 reduction. The involved actors benefit from know-how transfer, networking as well as the use of a digital, intelligent decision support system based on Life-Cycle-Assessment indicators. The activities are aimed at directly and indirectly involved stakeholders in food cycles such as manufacturing companies, trading companies, the hotel industry, but also energy providers. The project will enable different stakeholders to take into account resource and CO2 savings and strengthen sustainable and circular economic competitiveness in the Alps.

Factsheet

  • 2021 – 2027
  • Carbon neutral and resource sensitive Alpine region
  • SO 2.2 - Promoting the transition to a circular and resource efficient economy
    • AG1 Research & innovation
  • 11/2022
  • 10/2025
  • 2.386.438 EUR
  • 1.789.828 EUR

Partners

University of Applied Science Salzburg (Lead partner)
  • Lead partner
  • Austria
  • Salzburg (AT32)
  • Puch bei Hallein
Austrian Institute of Ecology
  • Austria
  • Wien (AT13)
  • Vienna
E-institute, institute for comprehensive development solutions
  • Slovenia
  • Vzhodna Slovenija (SI03)
  • Ptuj
Nice Côte d’Azur Chamber of Commerce and Industry
  • France
  • Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (FRL0)
  • Nice
BSC, Business support organisation, ltd., Kranj
  • Slovenia
  • Zahodna Slovenija (SI04)
  • Kranj
Agency for Sustainable Mediterranean Cities and Territories
  • France
  • Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (FRL0)
  • Marseille Cedex 02
LAMORO Development Agency
  • Italy
  • Piemonte (ITC1)
  • ASTI
IDM Südtirol Alto Adige
  • Italy
  • Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano/Bozen (ITH1)
  • Bolzano
University of Applied Sciences Munich
  • Germany
  • Oberbayern (DE21)
  • München
Cluster of Environmental Technologies Bavaria
  • Germany
  • Schwaben (DE27)
  • Augsburg
  • 47.72412113.086338
  • 48.200280816.3453075
  • 46.41779384999999515.874825928236131
  • 43.704157.275177637275622
  • 46.246576514.3644724
  • 43.30567315.444226820336164
  • 44.90223978.2071723
  • 46.497845311.3534085
  • 48.1535903511.553143192240475
  • 48.4005549510.933246443146322

Outcomes


  • Alpine-wide methodology of LCA indicators in defined food streams

    Consolidation of already existing LCAs to track ecological and C02 implications of food production, distribution and waste, leading to the development of a comprehensive and replicable LCA methodology to assess food streams in defined food product categories. Regional specifics are considered, stakeholders inside and outside the respective food streams identified in order to close food cycles. Provides the baseline for AS common methodology implementation for piloting closed food cycles.

  • Establishment of Circular Food Hubs

    This output is devoted to exploiting the project results/ achievements. Exploitation plan is produced in the first year and is constantly updated during the course of the project to ensure that the results of the project and the relevant associated initiatives are successfully conveyed to the appropriate stakeholders, to the public and international community. A main focus is also laid on the appropriateness of information for local users (language, accessibility, pre-information).

  • User-friendly Intelligent Digital LCA Service System (IDLCASS)

    IDLCASS is an AI-powered platform that evaluates and measures food resource impact on CO2 emission throughout food streams based on existing and newly collected data. Data analytics in food waste and re-use potential help moving towards closed food cycles and reap best decisions in terms of quality and reliability. IDLCASS is based on a secure software to protect IP and user data. Integration of tool chains supports CE-based decisionmaking by integrating stakeholders' own cost structures.

  • Pilots of smart, closed food cycles (CEFoodCycles)

    Participatory tools such as workshops or innovation labs that allow relevant stakeholders along the defined food stream (within selected product categories) to get to know each other; exchange relevant CE experiences and identify pressure points needed to develop new circular business solutions. Also, in-depth analysis of their business models will allow to identify (digital) information points needed to develop LCA standards and digital operating system.

  • Policy Recommendations

    Promotion of the use of regional products and waste reduction through capitalization, awareness raising and networking for CE-based solutions and the role of digitization tested in CEFoodCycle pilots. Suggestion of policies for political framing approaches at regional and national levels, based on the results of project pilots, to contribute to a just transition towards circular economy for all stakeholders along the cross-regional food chain.

  • IDLCASS Network Established

    Participatory processes in each phase of the project favors sustainability of results and outputs beyond the end of the CEFoodCycle project. Stakeholders along the food value stream across countries / local communities are engaged in addressing circular economy and food waste management through a bottom-up approach. By disseminating CEFoodCycle experiences and sharing know-how / results with other regions, municipalities and communities help mutual learning among users and policy makers.

Project news

Exhibition Circular Food Hub in Salzburg @ Salzburger Wirtschaftsforum 2023

18.05.2023
Circular Food Hub Bavaria / Austria meets decision-makers from the business community

Connecting to local stakeholders to boost change

18.05.2023
University of Applied Sciences Munich and Cluster of Environmental Technologies Bavaria meet Circular Munich

Virtual workshop for Developing a Common LCA Methodology as regards to food products

07.03.2023
Developing a common LCA methodology for food products

Kick-off meeting

22.02.2023
On 7th and 8th February 2023, a two-day kick-off for the project CEFoodCycle took place in Salzburg