Basque Plan of Action against Food Waste
(
Local / Regional Government
)
#SDGAction43646
Description
The aim of the Basque plan of action against food waste is to promote and support a set of specific actions aimed at preventing and reducing the amount of wasted food throughout the food production, supply and consumption chain in the Basque Country. Likewise, it is intended to facilitate the donation for human consumption of the surplus, and the recovery of other surpluses for use in animal food. On the other hand, this plan aims to help implement the SDGs (particularly SDG 12.3- halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains), as well as the recommendations of the Resolution of 19 December January 2012 of the European Parliament.
Scope:
The actions envisaged in this Plan are designed and adapted to the reality of the Basque Country and include actions in the field of production, transformation, transport, trade, and consumption of food in the Basque Country.
Structure and Work Plan:
The guidance of the work plan and specific actions are led by the Operating Committee Platform of the Basque Country. The main mission of the Platform is to provide advice and support to the Basque administrations in order to adopt the necessary policy lines to meet the objectives of this Plan. It has established the following six working initiatives:
1. Encourage food retailing short circuits and differentiate local agri-food products.
2. Define and prioritize lines of research on sustainable food production.
3. Experiences of incorporating local products in community kitchens.
4. Plan for the Promotion of Ecological Production in the Basque Country: FOPE.
5. Nirea Initiative.
6. Zero Food waste.
Governance:
An Operational Table has been created and is made up of people with direct or indirect technical experience in areas related to food waste, either in a personal capacity or representing both public and private entities. The main function of this Operational Table is to coordinate and drive the Platform and the specific Working Groups.
This task force has the following functions:
-To propose actions within the scope of the Plan.
-To compile experiences, information, and practices in relation to food waste.
-To be the nexus of union and governance of the Platform and the different specific Working Groups within the framework of the Plan.
-To analyze and share the information and data available on the actions being carried out in the field of food waste in the Basque Country.
-To advise and serve as a focal point for agents, organizations, companies, and citizens who wish to participate in actions to reduce food waste.
-To monitor the development and application of the actions contemplated in each of the areas of action established in the Plan.
For operational purposes, the Working Groups focus on the following lines of action:
1. Sources of information and data.
2. Awareness, dissemination, and training.
3. Development of guidelines.
4. Support and promotion of research.
Solutions: These working groups are led by Elika, who acts as the secretariat.
In the Basque Country, it is estimated that food waste exceeds 350,000 tons. This is 160 kg/person /year, approximately. There, this initiative, with the collaboration of various public and private entities and institutions, and sectoral agents that make up the Basque food chain, aims to join forces so that by 2030 the amount of food we waste will drop by at least 50%.
For this, one of the focuses will be on the Circular Food Cycle, whose objective is to take advantage of the complete cycle of the food value chain, from the production to the transformation and sale of food, including the use and recovery of by-products and waste.
The Key Project for Circular Food is jointly led by the Directorate of Agriculture and Livestock and the Directorate of the Natural Environment and Environmental Planning, which aims to consolidate a new agricultural model in the Basque Country that respects the environment and promotes and facilitates responsible eating habits.
The project aims to enhance the aim of Basque Plan of Action against Food Waste to promote the environmental sustainability of the Basque primary sector by taking advantage of the complete cycle of the food value chain in the Basque Country (production, transformation, sale, reuse and recovery of by-products and waste), in order to strengthen natural capital and activate ecosystem services, improve people's health and encourage the creation of employment on the basis of sustainable rural development.
Other partners: City halls of Bilbao, San Sebastian and Vitoria (local government); provincial governments; The Association of Basque Municipalities-Eudel (local government); Basque Institute of Consumption (other relevant actor); Public environmental management company (other relevant actor); Federation of Consumers of the Basque Country (other relevant actor); Federation of Agro-Food Cooperatives of the Basque Country (other relevant actor); Basque Food Cluster (private sector); Hospitality Association of Biscay and Guipúzcoa (private sector); Mercabilbao (other relevant actor); Eroski (private sector); Mercadona (private sector); Carrefour (private sector); Ausolan (private sector); Gastronomía Baska (private sector); Askora (private sector); Grupo Gasca (private sector); Lumagorri (private sector) ENBA and UAGA workers union (other relevant actor); Azti technological center (private sector); Hotel Management School of Leioa (academic institution); Basque Culinary Center (academic institution); Basque Organic Food and Agriculture Council (other relevant actor); Basque Federation of Food Banks (NGO); Nevera Solidaria (NGO); Aunar Elkartea (NGO); Lagun Artea (NGO).
SDGS & Targets
Goal 12
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
12.1
Implement the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns, all countries taking action, with developed countries taking the lead, taking into account the development and capabilities of developing countries
12.1.1
Number of countries developing, adopting or implementing policy instruments aimed at supporting the shift to sustainable consumption and production
12.2
By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources
12.2.1
Material footprint, material footprint per capita, and material footprint per GDP
12.2.2
Domestic material consumption, domestic material consumption per capita, and domestic material consumption per GDP
12.3
By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses
12.3.1
(a) Food loss index and (b) food waste index
12.4
By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment
12.4.1
12.4.2
(a) Hazardous waste generated per capita; and (b) proportion of hazardous waste treated, by type of treatment
12.5
By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse
12.5.1
National recycling rate, tons of material recycled
12.6
Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle
12.6.1
12.7
Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities
12.7.1
Number of countries implementing sustainable public procurement policies and action plans
12.8
By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature
12.8.1
Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment
12.a
Support developing countries to strengthen their scientific and technological capacity to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production
12.a.1
Installed renewable energy-generating capacity in developing and developed countries (in watts per capita)
12.b
Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products
12.b.1
Implementation of standard accounting tools to monitor the economic and environmental aspects of tourism sustainability
12.c
Rationalize inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption by removing market distortions, in accordance with national circumstances, including by restructuring taxation and phasing out those harmful subsidies, where they exist, to reflect their environmental impacts, taking fully into account the specific needs and conditions of developing countries and minimizing the possible adverse impacts on their development in a manner that protects the poor and the affected communities
12.c.1
Amount of fossil-fuel subsidies (production and consumption) per unit of GDP
SDG 14 targets covered
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- Europe
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Contact Information
Estibaliz Urcelay, Foreign Affairs Officer