The ECOWASTE4FOOD cross-visit to the Region of Western Macedonia, held from 2 to 4 May 2018, was successfully completed. The project is included in and co-funded by Interreg Europe. The visit was organised by the Regional Development Fund of Western Macedonia / Region of Western Macedonia in cooperation with local stakeholders.
The visit aimed to enable local stakeholders active in the project’s field to present eco-innovation good practices for reducing and valorising food waste to representatives of selected organisations and businesses from England, France, Spain and Poland.
Participants from Western Macedonia who presented their practices included the Velventos Agricultural Cooperative Producers’ Organisation (ASOP) “DIMITRA”; ARSIS Kozani – Volunteer Community for Solidarity and Social Action; DIOSKOURIDIS General Partnership; KOURELLAS S.A.; the NGO BOROUME; and the cattle breeders’ group “APO PROTO CHERI” Private Company.
The cross-visit was attended by partners and business representatives from Wielkopolska in Poland, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur in France, Devon in the United Kingdom and Catalonia in Spain.
Participating stakeholders included representatives of businesses and organisations such as the JANA dairy cooperative and SPOMASZ food machinery manufacturer from Poland, the Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives of Catalonia, the Fondalim initiative from Marseille, and Exeter Food Action & Exeter Food Network and Waste Not Ilfracombe from England.
During the visit, participants gained knowledge and experience of applying good practices and eco-innovations to reduce and valorise food waste, and explored the possibility of transferring these practices to their own production facilities and processes.
The visit began on 2 May (the first day) with a welcome at the Region’s premises by the Director of the Regional Development Fund of Western Macedonia. This was followed by a presentation by the NGO BOROUME on its activities and results at national level. The group then visited a bakery in Kozani, where ARSIS Kozani presented its “Bread on Hold” initiative, implemented with the Kozani Bakers’ Association. The first day concluded with a visit to ARSIS Kozani’s premises, where its activities were presented in detail.
The second day included visits to:
- the Velventos Agricultural Cooperative Producers’ Organisation (ASOP) “DIMITRA” in Velventos, Kozani, where its organisation, operating model and use of surplus fruit were presented.
- KOURELLAS S.A., a dairy producer in Grevena, where partners and stakeholders toured the dairy and animal feed production facilities and the farm. The use of food waste arising from production was also explained.
- DIOSKOURIDIS General Partnership, which cultivates, produces and processes aromatic and medicinal plants.
The third and final day included a visit to the milk vending machines of the cattle breeders’ group “APO PROTO CHERI” Private Company. Participants received information about production, the business model and the use of products nearing their expiry date.
The partners and business representatives visiting Western Macedonia under ECOWASTE4FOOD showed particular interest in the region’s good practices, both in production processes and in waste valorisation. They also stressed their intention to share their experiences with local stakeholders in their own areas so that organisations and businesses there could potentially adopt these practices.
Further information about ECOWASTE4FOOD is available at https://www.interregeurope.eu/ecowaste4food/.
