Project
Efficient reduction of food waste in primary production

National Strategy for Food Waste Reduction - Dialogue Forum Primary Production
The food value chain starts with primary production. In 2015, 1.36 million tons of food waste were generated there in Germany, only at this level. We want to support the primary production to reduce their food waste.
Background and Objective
The Federal government is pursuing the goal of halving per capita food waste at retail and consumer level by 2030. In addition, food losses should be reduced along the entire value chain. The Federal Government has included these goals and approaches in the National Strategy for Food Waste Reduction. As part of this, Dialogue Forums were set up for various sectors (primary production, processing, wholesale and retail, out-of-home sector and private households).
The aim of this Dialogue Forum is to quantify food losses and to analyse causes of food losses on primary production. In addition, reduction measures will be developed, implemented and evaluated.
Target Group
Scientists, practitioners and politicians.
Approach
In order to encourage the communication between scientists and practitioners and to reduce food losses together, so-called round tables are being set up for each product group (animal products, cereals, vegetables and fruit).
Together we will quantify and analyse food waste on primary production. In addition, reduction measures will be developed, implemented and evaluated in demonstration businesses.
In order to achieve the goals formulated in the National Strategy, voluntary agreements will be made between the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the actors of primary production.
Data and Methods
Based on the study ‘Baseline 2015 – food waste in Germany‘, the food losses and waste monitoring will be optimized in order to improve data quality and close data gaps.
The reduction measures will be evaluated using a predefined assessment framework, based on the assessment framework of the EU Joint Research Centre.
Our Research Questions
How much food is lost on the primary production stage?
Which reduction measures are efficient?
Results
Recommendations for action on monitoring and reduction measures for practitioners and politicians.
Links and Downloads
DLG : Dialogue Forums on primary production and processing
Too Good For The Bin: National Strategy for Food Waste Reduction
Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture: National Strategy of Food Waste Reduction
Thünen-Contact

Involved Thünen-Partners
Involved external Thünen-Partners
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Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft (DLG)
(Frankfurt/M., Deutschland)
Funding Body
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Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE)
(national, öffentlich)