Enviu’s ambition for FoodFlow is a great example of a circular solution preventing and recovering food loss which aligns to PACE’s Circular Economy Action Agenda for Food. The Action Agenda, released in February 2021, sets out 10 calls-to-action (CtA) designed to optimize impact, overcome barriers, and scale the circular economy. FoodFlow addresses six of these calls-to-action, highlighted below. For example, FoodFlow’s aim to showcase a professional 0% loss in the fruit and vegetable value chain for the domestic market in Kenya, reframes food waste as a valuable resource (CtA 7). The initiative looks to create jobs, increase income for smallholder farmers and increase food security aligning with the SDG Agenda (CtA 5).
- Better Understand Hotspots of Food Loss and Waste
- Integrate Food Loss and Waste More Broadly in the SDG Agenda
- Increase Investment in Food Loss and Waste Reduction
- Reframe Wasted Food and Byproducts as Valuable Resources
- Facilitate Secondary Market Development and Access
- Increase Information Accessibility and Data Utilization
What is PACE’s progress on the Circular Economy Action Agenda for Food?
Through PACE’s partners, 17 actions have been identified as working towards the Circular Economy Action Agenda for Food, from the Ellen MacArthur Food Initiative to Denmark Against Food Waste, these initiatives are working towards the 10 calls-to-action and can be viewed in more detail on our website. These actions demonstrate successful cross-sector collaboration aimed at building a circular economy. FoodFlow has been selected as working towards the Action Agenda as it showcases a circular solution to preventing food waste that is co- developed by impact-driven entrepreneurs and the local government.
Based on partner input, PACE has been supporting the development of new actions for a few CtAs that currently find good traction and momentum. One example is through the ongoing work of identifying the right stakeholders in the PACE network to develop a project idea and plan to support locally led circular economy food systems transition in Rwanda, aligning to is for the CtAs 2, 6, and 7 for Food.
What’s next for the Enviu and PACE partnership?
PACE’s goal is to contribute to acceleration and scale of the circular economy; to learn lessons that can be passed on to the rest of our community through exemplary actions such as Enviu’s FoodFlow. So far, this initiative has achieved great impact in developing and implementing new technology which drives out post-harvest losses in the French bean, mango, and avocado value chains. The ambition next is to further build value chains made up of sustainable, circular business models, achieving 0% post-harvest loss, increasing incomes, and improving food security to other crops and regions throughout East Africa and beyond. By joining forces with the group of food experts within the PACE network, and building on their successes, failures, skills and technologies, the initiative can gain valuable insights to realize this envisioned change.