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EFFPA publishes video to explain former foodstuff processing

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In the framework of the 2nd International Food Waste Awareness Day on 29 September 2021, EFFPA has published a video to explain former foodstuff processing. In this process, food losses emerging at food manufacturer and retail level are processed to be used as feed ingredients for food-producing animals. Examples of former foodstuffs are bread, biscuits, breakfast cereals, pasta and confectionery.

The video demonstrates the contribution the former foodstuffs processing sector makes to prevent food waste from occurring by giving food losses a purpose as feed for animals, who produce animal products such as meat, milk and eggs. As the video highlights, food manufacturers and retail will always first consider food donation possibilities. Also, former foodstuff processors do not process any food losses that contain meat or fish.

The recently re-elected EFFPA President Valentina Massa: “EFFPA members are very proud to launch this video which explains the pivotal role former foodstuff processors play in preventing food waste. We do this in cooperation with food manufacturers and retailers who want to maximize their efforts as regards environmental sustainability and food waste prevention. Furthermore, the video underlines that the feed produced by former foodstuff processors from food losses is very sustainable and perfectly suitable for carbon emissions reduction strategies for animal products. Former foodstuff processing is in the heart of the circular food economy and ensures nutrient use in the food chain is optimized”.

The post EFFPA publishes video to explain former foodstuff processing appeared first on EFFPA.


EFFPA Vice-President Alexander Romme – FEFAC’s Circular Feed webinar

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On the 31 of March, FEFAC held its 6th edition of Charter Webinar Series 2030. This webinar focused on “The future of nutrient recovery through animal nutrition”. 

After an introduction of FEFAC President Asbjorn Borsting to remind the context and the importance of long-term perspective for circular feed, Dr. Scholten, scientific advisor from Wageningen University set this scene for the discussions with scientific perspective.

Then Alexander Romme, EFFPA Vice-President, exposed the circular potential of former foodstuffs processing in a panel discussion together with speakers from the insects, phosphorous recovery, and algae industries. Alexander Romme focused his presentation on 3 key ways of development to increase the amount of products circularly processed:

  • Actions at supplier level (food manufacturers & retailers): efforts have to be done to increase the collaboration between former foodstuffs processors and suppliers. Raising awareness on this circular way of valorisation is key;
  • Actions at customer level (feed industry and food businesses): former foodstuffs feed products are high-quality products with a low carbon footprint. 
  • Actions at policy level: food & feed use should always prevail. To do so, defining safeguard measures to energy-related policies is a priority to keep food losses within sustainable food systems. 

You can find the recording & the presentations of all the panelists in this link.

The post EFFPA Vice-President Alexander Romme – FEFAC’s Circular Feed webinar appeared first on EFFPA.

Animal Husbandry and Circular Economy: The Importance of Former Foodstuff

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The original article can be found on the European Livestock Voice website here: https://meatthefacts.eu/home/activity/beyond-the-headlines/animal-husbandry-and-circular-economy-the-importance-of-former-foodstuff/

An overlooked fact about the livestock sector and the protection of the environment and natural resources is that: livestock supply chains are virtually fully circular. Livestock can implement well the circular economy. For example, hundreds of products are obtained from a single cow or pig, and emissions can be reduced by producing biogas and biomethane valorizing the manure. One significant but lesser-known way is through the upcycling of so-called “former foodstuffs“, usually defined as “biscuit meal” or “bread meal”.

We spoke to Valentina Massa: “a mother and businesswoman in the circular feed sector”, and the European Former Foodstuff Processors Association (EFFPA) president.

What is EFFPA, and what does it do?

EFFPA is the European – but de facto international – association representing the sector of former foodstuff processors. Our members are national associations (the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the Netherlands) and significant companies representing key markets (Belgium, Spain and Portugal, Italy, Greece, Denmark, Canada and the USA). It is estimated that five million tonnes of former foodstuffs are processed annually in Europe, of which 3.5 million tonnes are processed in the European countries where EFFPA is active.

Where does the ex-food destined to produce animal feed come from?

The correct term is former foodstuff. The definition set out in EU Regulation (EU 1104/2022) states, “Former foodstuffs’ means foodstuffs, other than catering reflux, which were manufactured for human consumption in full compliance with the EU food law but which are no longer intended for human consumption for practical or logistical reasons or due to problems of manufacturing or packaging defects or other defects and which do not present any health risks when used as feed(…)”. Since they are former foodstuffs, they come mainly from the food manufacturing industries as individual ingredients, intermediate products and finished products with mislabeling, packaging errors, etc. But they can also come from distribution and retail logistics centres.

An exceptional feature of former foodstuff is that, within the livestock value chain, they allow for considerable savings in water consumption, carbon footprint and land use by replacing “traditional” raw materials from the primary feed sector. Several Life Cycle Assessment studies have shown a significant advantage for the environment in favouring these circular ingredients.

What is the difference between food waste and food with characteristics that can be transformed into the feed?

Food waste, by definition, means any substance or product, whether processed, partially processed or unprocessed, intended to be, or reasonably expected to be ingested by humans which (Ref Reg. Ce 178/02 art. 2) for various reasons has lost the purpose of being ingested by humans, and it is not destined as a feed ingredient. In other words, food is not eaten and goes out of the feed and food chain. Feed is excluded from this definition because the nutritional part is “saved” in the feed chain. It is important to emphasize that waste cannot be part of the food or feed chain. The European Commission and the UN SDGs share the goal of halving food waste by 2030.

Translating the term ‘waste’ into different languages can be slightly unhelpful for former foodstuffs. For example, what in Italian is defined as a “waste” takes a different connotation of rejection in English. EFFPA has always supported the concept of circular raw materials as it is the best reuse in terms of the circular economy immediately after the use for human food. It is not in competition with human food (because it is defined as former foodstuff only if no longer intended for human consumption). It guarantees the reduction of food waste, as it reduces the use of “traditional” resources from the primary/agricultural sector and, therefore, less use of water, land and fertilizers.

The fact that it starts as feed material and not as waste allows for maximum feed safety and traceability, as all feed system operators implement a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) system – a preventive approach to increase food safety by avoiding hazards in production processes that would make the final product unsafe – and ensured traceability to reduce and minimize any risk.

How can we guarantee total food safety in producing feed from “former foodstuff”?

The guarantee of safety is based on five pillars:

  1. Specific technical and plant engineering capacity for the type of ex-food product and packaging to ensure maximum food safety.
  2. According to HACCP management, organizations with advanced traceability systems manage, prevent, monitor and minimize any risk.
  3. Logistic and storage capacity suitable for the specific types of former foodstuff to ensure timeliness and correct transport and storage rules.
  4. Synergy and collaboration with food business operators in risk prevention and HACCP management to effectively make the circular economy a valuable and durable asset in food safety.
  5. Synergy and collaboration with research centres and the feed industry to improve the response to the needs of modern animal husbandry.

Beyond the value of a circular economy, can your work support the supply chains also in terms of food security? Especially in times of war and scarcity or supply disruption…

It is currently estimated that five million tonnes of former foodstuff products are produced annually in Europe. Using these ingredients can partially replace cereal grains, oils and sugars in livestock rations: it is an actual nutritional efficiency. For years, we have contributed to a more sustainable food chain, producing less waste and enhancing circular ingredients in feed. Working with the food distribution and retail sectors to improve their know-how will help towards our goal of reducing food wastage. This still needs development.

At the moment, the conflict in Ukraine has further exacerbated the tension also for energy supply. The risk is that all the work done to date – and with it, the efficiency obtained with the former-foodstuff products and other food by-products in the feed chain – will be sidelined by incentives to increase energy production that certainly serve but may not be defined as sustainable, when produced with feed ingredients instead of residues without other potential uses. To give a simple example, would you heat your home by burning the food stored in your pantry? Indeed, it would generate heat, but at what cost? And then what will you eat? We need to think about the proper allocation of resources and avoid silo-thinking, now more than ever when scarcity is a reality.

In several decades of activity in the circular economy, we have learned that it is necessary to continuously collaborate constructively with the various sectors in compliance with the laws. We are convinced that the food industries, policymakers and consumers will agree we must protect our food and feed system and find the right way to implement renewable energy.


An Introduction to Former Foodstuff Processing

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EFFPA EU Green Week Webinar: 6 June – 10 am

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Together in Support of a Circular Economy! 

Discover what significant role food manufacturers and retailers can play in the circular green economy by making former foodstuffs available for animal feed production.

Join us for a webinar with contributions and presentations from AIBI, EuroCommerce, EFFPA and GMP+ will share valuable insights on the role of the food waste reduction potential of Former Foodstuff Processing. 

Date: 6 June 2023 – 10 -11 am

Format: Online

Registration:  Follow this Link or use the QR Code above

Webinar speakers: 

Didier Jans – International Association of Plant Bakers (AIBI)

Co-products circularity in the Bakery industry

Els Bedert – EuroCommerce

Retail and Wholesale continued focus on reducing Food Waste

Valentina Massa – European Former Foodstuff Processor’s Association (EFFPA)

Introduction to EFFPA and Former Foodstuff Processing

Jaap van der Kloet – GMP+ International

Feed Hygiene & Safety Requirements for Retailers and Food Manufacturers to sell Former Foodstuffs

 

This Webinar is part of the EU Green Week and the European Year of Skills

The post EFFPA EU Green Week Webinar: 6 June – 10 am appeared first on EFFPA.

EU Green Week – EFFPA Webinar 6 June 2023

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The Webinar titled ‘The Role of Food Manufacturers and Retailers in the Processing of Former Foodstuffs’ hosted by EFFPA took place on 6 June with more than fifty attendees from retail, food businesses, associations, as well as EU and national officials. As part of the EU Green Week initiative and the European Year of Skills to contribute to sustainable growth, the webinar aimed at ‘teaching skills’ to food manufacturers and food retailers to facilitate their capacity to make former foodstuffs available for feed production. EFFPA also presented the webinar as part of its activities as co-chair of the EU Food Waste Platform Action & Implementation sub-group, supporting the EU in finding solutions to reach the food waste reductions targets (to be published early July 2023).

The speakers, Didier Jans (AIBI), Els Bedert (EuroCommerce), Jaap van der Kloet (GMP+ International), and EFFPA president Valentina Massa delivered presentations, introducing their respective organisations with emphasis on the link between former foodstuff processors and their supplier industry, in particular retailers and food operators. Raising awareness of former foodstuff processing, explaining the legal feed safety requirements and barriers the speakers aimed at facilitating the food to feed transition. The webinar shed light on the processing of relevant materials – especially bread – not anymore intended for human consumption procured by bakers and retailers. According to AIBI, the Association of International Plant Bakeries, about 75% of bread ‘residual flows’ goes to animal feed which is considered to be the most suitable path. This is reflected in AIBI’s recent attempt to have DG ENERGY to withdraw bakery wastes from Annex IX of Regulation (EC) 2018/2001 on renewable energy production, to prevent financial incentives to drive bakery residues away from the animal feed outlet. EuroCommerce is an important partner in the supply chain, as they are positioned between producers and consumers. This allows for positive influence on food production and distribution, which is especially important concerning selling wholesale and bulk quantities. This also gives responsibility to the retail sector which is, represented by EuroCommerce, engaged in many frameworks to fight food waste in Europe and to further reduce the sectorial waste which currently accounts for 7% of the total food waste in the EU. Several strategies, such as feed milling, insect feeding, or direct use on farms have been presented as a means to valorise food losses.

In their presentation, EFFPA introduced the sector and raised awareness for solutions that former foodstuff processing offers in relation to SDG 12.3 giving emphasis to the relevant legal frameworks, especially Directive 2008/98/EC (including definitions of ‘waste’ and measures by the EU to mitigate waste excluding animal by-products), Regulation (EC) No. 294/2013 (stating health rules regarding animal by-products), and Commission Notice 2018/C 133/02 (which states the guidelines for the feed use of ‘food no longer intended for human consumption’), and which explicitly states that former foodstuffs destined to become feed is indeed not ‘waste’. EFFPA pointed to clarifications made by the European Commission to facilitate the uptake of former foodstuffs in feed, such as the fact a food used by / best before date expiration does not automatically exclude potential feed use. 

The GMP+ International presentation stressed the importance of feed safety compliance in Europe ever since the BSE and Dioxin scandals in the 1990s and explained a range of feed safety requirements relevant to food manufacturers and retailers when considering to make former foodstuffs available as feed. 

In the Q&A, the organisations pointed to the importance of collaboration and taking responsibility to drive sustainability while respecting all safety principles. Regarding the role of food processors in developing former foodstuff processing, Didier Jans said: ‘Important are the value of the product and the trust between partners […] There are synergies between food and feed hygiene. But they’re not the same. If we want to be successful, we need to manage that.’ Els Bedert added: ‘The key points for success are awareness, knowledge sharing, harmonisation, and identifying the barriers!’

As a direct follow up action, EFFPA also presented the requirements around former foodstuff processing to the Eurocommerce Food Committee on 7 June 2023. 

The Role of Food Manufacturers and Retailers in the Processing of Former Foodstuffs

EFFPA Presentation – Valentina Massa Introduction of EFFPA and Former Foodstuff Processing

AIBI Presentation – Didier Jans Co-products circularity in the Bakery industry

EuroCommerce Presentation – Els Bedert Retail and Wholesale continued focus on reducing Food Waste

GMP+ International – Jaap van der Kloet Feed Hygiene & Safety Requirements for Retailers & Food Manufacturers to sell Former Foodstuffs

The post EU Green Week – EFFPA Webinar 6 June 2023 appeared first on EFFPA.

EFFPA Press Release on EU publication of Food Waste Targets

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EFFPA welcomes publication of EU Food Waste Reduction Targets

Brussels, 5th of July 2023

On the 5th of July the European Commission has released the targets for food waste reduction as part of a package of measures aimed to stimulate the sustainable use of key natural resources. With nearly 59 million tonnes (131 kg/inhabitant) of food wasted in the EU each year estimated at a market value of €132 billion, the EU is now taking action. More than half of the food waste (53%) is generated by households, followed by the processing and manufacturing sector (20%). The released targets concern food processing operations, the retail sector, and households. In order to make a significant impact, the EU wants to reduce food waste generation by 10%, in processing and manufacturing, and by 30% (per capita), jointly at retail and consumption (restaurants, food services and households). EFFPA welcomes the release of the Food Waste Reduction Targets as an opportunity for the food value chain to engage with the former foodstuffs processing sector to benefit from the animal feed solution to prevent food waste.
In adherence to the Food Waste Hierarchy, the former foodstuff processing sector plays a special role. A significant contribution towards the successful implementation of these targets is possible through the processing of food losses into safe ingredients destined to animal feed, which is recognised as a means of food waste prevention. By these means currently about 5 million tons of former foodstuffs can be processed every year in Europe. EFFPA has established itself as an important stakeholder in the discussion and adoption of the food waste reduction targets as a member of the EU Platform on Food Losses and Food Waste, for which EFFPA is co-chair of the Action & Implementation Subgroup in 2023. It is EFFPA’s ambition to strengthen the cooperation with authorities, food business operators, as well as retailers to reduce avoidable food losses in the chain through animal feed.

Valentina Massa, EFFPA President about the released targets: “The adoption of the Food Waste Reduction Targets by the European Commission supports the key role that animal feed and in particular, former foodstuff processing plays in the valorisation of food no longer destined for human consumption as a prevention solution of food losses and a relevant support in the feed autonomy strategy. EFFPA is resolute in demonstrating to policy makers and chain partners that together we possess a means to further prevent/reduce food wastage, while we also hold a key solution for compound feed manufacturing with lower GHG emissions and water consumption together with an important reduction of land use for livestock production. Former foodstuff processing should be recognised as a key lever in
driving a sustainable food system.”

The post EFFPA Press Release on EU publication of Food Waste Targets appeared first on EFFPA.

Press Release: EFFPA welcomes new member IUNGO from Poland

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Brussels, 26 July 2023

As per 1st of July 2023, EFFPA welcomes Iungo, a former foodstuff processor as a new Observer Member to its association. IUNGO was established as a result of joining forces of several companies in fields, such as, trade, transport, by-products and feed materials that is generated in the food sector. The company, involved in many sectors, also manufactures, stores and trades feed materials and compound feed. Since this year, IUNGO has started to operationalise its former foodstuff processing activities, aiming to serve customers in the compound feed manufacturing sector. IUNGO is the first EFFPA member from a country of the 2004 EU Enlargement.


EFFPA President Valentina Massa: ‘I am very pleased EFFPA is able to welcome a member from a part in Europe where there is so much potential for former foodstuff processing to contribute to food waste prevention and sustainable feed production. Through membership to EFFPA, IUNGO can learn from the experiences gained in other countries, while in turn their membership reinforces EFFPA as the representative of the European former foodstuff processing sector.’
IUNGO President Wilfried de Moor: ‘Joining the EFFPA organization is undoubtedly a milestone in the history of IUNGO. We are extremely happy that we have become part of the EFFPA organization. We hope that by working together and following the same ideas, having representatives in Brussels, we will be able to work together to prevent food waste and to use food production residues as feed materials. Thanks to the exchange of experience and meeting new partners from the industry around the world, we are sure that we will build our capital for the future, for the good of our planet.’

With IUNGO, EFFPA now has 12 members.

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EFFPA 10 Year Anniversary, 19th of October 2023 in Brussels

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PDF Programme Available Here

We are excited to announce and invite you to a significant milestone celebration – the 10th anniversary of EFFPA, the European Former Foodstuffs Processor’s Association. Your presence will make this event even more special.

Date:                   October 19th

Time:                  2:00 pm (Registration and Sandwich Lunch from 13:15)

Location:           ACE Events, Brussels 

Format:              Physical Only

 

The EFFPA event on the 19th of October celebrates the 10th anniversary of the association. The event will showcase the former foodstuff processing sector’s circular economy solution as a contribution to sustainable food and sustainable feed production. The event aims to underline the relevance of former foodstuff processing in pertinent files at EU level, such as food waste reduction targets, sustainable food systems, GHG emissions reduction by the European livestock sector and increased EU feed autonomy.

The event features a session on the role of former foodstuffs in sustainable food and sustainable feed production respectively, in order to address what more can be done to facilitate and stimulate the food and retail sectors to make food no longer destined for human consumption available as feed for food-producing animals, as well as boost the recognition of former foodstuffs as a key feed ingredient to foster sustainable livestock farming. The EFFPA event thereby also aims to demonstrate the strong interlinkages between ‘direct human food’ and livestock production, which are often presented as parallel production systems. 

 

Mark your calendar for October 19th at 2:00 PM, and join us in celebrating a decade of progress and innovation in the realm of former foodstuff processing. Together, we are paving the way for a more sustainable and circular food economy. Thank you for your continued support and partnership. We look forward to celebrating with you in Brussels.

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EFFPA Celebrates 10th Anniversary in Brussels: A Decade of Progress in Reducing Food Waste and Boosting Sustainable Livestock Production

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On 19 October 2023, the European Former Foodstuff Processor’s Association (EFFPA) marked its 10th anniversary with a celebratory event in Brussels. Former foodstuff processing for animal feed purposes is currently clearly recognised as a business that enables food waste reduction as well as a means to meet sustainability targets in feed manufacturing, such as increasing circularity, reducing the environmental footprint and avoiding food-feed competition. The gathering, moderated by EFFPA Executive Director Anton van den Brink, brought together approximately 80 participants from the European Commission, national representations of member states, stakeholders from the food and feed chain and academia.

In his keynote presentation “Circular Feed: the case of former foodstuffs”, Professor Luciano Pinotti from the University of Milano stressed that former foodstuffs are especially suitable in feed for young animals like piglets where they can be incorporated at levels up to 30% without negative effect on body weight, daily gain, feed conversion ratios or carcass quality compared to cereals-based feed. The high level of fat and the higher glycaemic index favour also feed intake. Former foodstuffs are also suitable in feed for finisher pigs, poultry and dairy cows with positive impact on milk yield. He highlighted ongoing research on animals’ behaviour in relation to relatively higher levels of caffeine and theobromine in certain former foodstuffs compared to other feed materials, as well as research on possible effects of former foodstuffs on abatement of enteric methane emissions by cattle.

In the first session, with speakers from the European Commission, Wageningen University and the International Association of Plant Bakers (AIBI), the focus was on the role of former foodstuffs processors in promoting sustainable food production and preventing food waste. Key points included discussions on collaborative efforts between the European Commission and the EU Food Waste & Food Losses Platform. These efforts aimed to align with Sustainable Development Goals and involved standardised data reporting and donation guidelines. The European Commission presented the legislative proposal on setting food waste reduction targets, triggering the need for action by Member States. The session reiterated the recognition that former foodstuffs used as feed are a means to reduce food waste, while the increasing challenge is to deal with the increasing use of the biogas sector of food losses that could have had a purpose in feed.

In the second session, with speakers from the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, FEFAC and VION Group, the discussion focused on the feed use of former foodstuffs. There is a role for former foodstuffs to help the feed and livestock sectors to achieve sustainability goals, for example by lowering the carbon footprint, however participants underlined the importance of not compromising on safety requirements. FEFAC highlighted its ambition to push for a ‘circular feed culture’ together with relevant circular feed actors, allowing for improved analysis of potential volumes, reflect on metrics & indicators and consider legal aspects that deserve discussion.

EFFPA President Alexander Romme: “In the past 10 years, the European former foodstuff processing sector has been able to clearly position itself as a solution provider in a sustainable food system, reducing food waste and boosting sustainable livestock production. Going forward, our sector will continue its drive for innovation and expand its activities, while respecting the parameters set for food and feed safety.”

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