Story
   – Published on
February 10, 2021

Whywaste part of International Webinar on Food Waste in Brazil

Whywaste and Whywaste Brazil are proud to be part of an international webinar on why circularity and reducing food waste in Brazil is of paramount importance. Food waste is the theme of an event that brings together experts from Sweden and Brazil. One of the greenest countries in the world, Sweden recycles 99% of its waste. Brazil, one of the world's leaders in food production, throws about 37 million tons of organic waste every year - basically, food scraps.

Brazil is a country of superlatives. It has one of the largest agricultural territories in the world, is the leader in the cultivation of several crops, such as sugarcane and coffee, and reached, in 2020, the mark of 250 million tons in food produced per year, according to estimates by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE).

However, the same numbers that make Brazil one of the world's three largest agricultural producers also put the country in another uncomfortable ranking: food waste. Whether it's inadequate handling at the time of preparation or the waste of food left over on the plate, Brazil produces about 37 million tons of organic waste annually —basically, food scraps. It is almost 50% of all garbage collected in the country, according to estimates by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). All this food is thrown into Brazil's negative affectation in environmental, social and economic terms, especially at a time of crisis in which millions of people around the world have been starving daily.

It is to discuss this subject that experts from Brazil and Sweden will meet next Friday, February 12, at 8:30 am, in the international webinar Urban circular systems: Supermarkets and Free Fairs. The event will address the prevention of food waste in urban systems focused on supermarkets and free fairs through research and applied solutions. Topics such as regulation and tax benefits of food donations, management management for supermarkets, zero waste, voluntary agreements, circular farming systems and innovations will be discussed. The event is organised by the Swedish-Brazilian Institute of Circular Economy and Sustainable Development (ISBE), a non-profit civil association that seeks to encourage good sustainable consumption and production practises based on bilateral cooperation between Brazil and Sweden. The Nordic country, which has Brazil as the main economic partner in Latin America, is a global reference in sustainability and currently recycles 99% of its waste.

The event is also co-held by the Brazilian Agricultural Research Company (Embrapa), the Swedish startup Whywaste – which offers validity control and product expiration control for food companies to reduce their losses – and by the Impact Project, a collective that aims to stimulate reuse throughout the consumer chain. Also present at the event are representatives of the Ministry of Citizenship, the government of Paraná, the City of São Paulo, as well as experts on topics such as "Supermarket Zero Garbage", "Food Banks" and "Circular Systems". The full list of participants can be accessed via the link https://www.qualidade.co/isbe/. It will also involve researchers from Brazilian and Swedish universities and executives of multinational companies. The closure will be made by the Swedish Embassy in Brazil. International webinar "Prevention of food waste" Friday, February 12, 8:30 am to 12:30 pm

Contacts for the press
Bancillon deco | (61) 9-9216-6864
contato@bancillon.com.br

Ben Holden

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