The first Interregional Meeting of CIBUS project, in Sofia

The first CIBUS interregional meeting brought together 9 partners from 8 EU regions and included exchange session on the first day and study visits on the second day. In the exchange session a seminar has be organized, looking at the EU policy context, ongoing initiatives and research. The aim is to dive into an initial, 360° exchange on key topics such as:

• Factors contributing to food loss/waste across production/supply chain;
• Levels of innovation related to measures for food loss/waste prevention;
• Policy, practical, financial and capacity/skill needs.

The meeting included exchange session on the first day and study visits on the second day. In the exchange session a seminar has been organized by LP BAMEE and PP2 ANEL with expert input, looking at the EU policy context, ongoing initiatives and research in the three topics for analysis in Step 1. 

The heart of the seminar has been a discussion on the recommendations of the EU Platform on Food Losses and Food Waste. A workshop followed for initial exchange on content prepared in partner regions (initial thoughts on these 3 topics). For each topic, 1 PP leads with initial food for thought and others integrate and comment. 

A Steering Group, with a management and a communication session took place at the end of the first day. CIBUS exchange session and study visit were open to project partners and their local stakeholders. Participation in the Steering Group Meeting and communication session was limited to project partners only.

AGENDA

DAY 1 – 18th June 2024, VENUE: EUROPEAN Info Center, 124 Rakovski Str, 1000 Sofia
09:30 – 10:00  Registration     
10:00 – 10:15  Welcome and meeting opening, Assya Dobrudjalieva – BAMEE

10:15 – 11:15         

• Presentation of recommendations of the EU Platform on Food Losses and Food  Waste,  Mr. George Kortas, Ministry of Environment, Cyprus; 
• National waste management plan 2021 – 2028 (NWMP), Sub-programe for the Prevention of Food Waste, Svetla Bojkova, Director “Waste Management and Soil Protection”, Ministry of Environment and Water, Bulgaria;
• Assessment of the local context, Bulgaria –  Alexander Ivanov, Head of Department "Household, biodegradable and construction waste", Ministry of Environment and Water, Bulgaria.

11:15 – 11:30 Coffee Break
11:30 – 12:30 Existing solutions in cutting food loss/waste in Bulgaria

• ICT platform for food loss/waste reduction, Jane Dimitrova, FoodObox Ltd Sofia Municipality presentation on food waste management, Metropolitan enterprise for Waste treatment, Valentin Baev, Dep. Director;
• Food waste and out-of-home-dining – models and reasons for generation of  food waste, Assoc. Prof. Nina Tipova, PhD, University of National and World Economy

12:30 – 13:30 Lunch
13:30 – 15:30 Workshop on preliminary information/findings - Preparatory Module for Interregional Exchange  

15:30 – 17:00 Steering Group meeting

DAY 2 – 19th June 2024
10:00 – 12:30 Study visit to Sofia Mechanical&Biological Treatment Plant, village of Bogrov, 20 km from Sofia 
13:00 – 15:00 Visit and lunch at Blagichka – Zero waste, Sofia, Dianabad District, 25 Krum Kyulyavkov Str.
15:00 End of CIBUS  Meeting and departure of participants