The Netherlands aims to be fully circular by 2050. The government is working with businesses to ensure that in 25 years' time, the economy will run entirely on reusable raw materials. ProceZ (Propelling Circular Economy in Zeeland) focuses on the province of Zeeland and works on circularity in various waste streams (including the food chain), reuse of wastewater and the development and application of biobased building materials. Within ProceZ, we also collaborate with companies and governments.
Approximately 25 to 30 per cent of global food production ultimately does not reach consumers. ProceZ's goal is to prevent and reduce this waste. The causes and types of this waste will be investigated.
Moerman's ladder
Moerman's ladder will serve as a guideline for defining options to maximise the use of agro- and aquaculture products. The application of the top three steps of Moerman's ladder will be studied, with topics such as:
- Better management by extending shelf life through innovations at all levels will be investigated, with special attention to food quality, including taste, smell, texture and nutritional value, as well as food safety.
- Upcycling of (fruit and vegetable) waste streams into high-value products such as food ingredients or new food products.
- Fermentation to prevent waste streams and create new products.
In order to implement these strategies effectively, they will be discussed with stakeholders to explore how they can be applied in practice. In addition, proof-of-concepts may be developed.
