First Stakeholders Meeting in Alto Minho, Portugal

On September 26, 2024, the Intermunicipal Community of Alto Minho (CIM Alto Minho) hosted the first meeting of the CIBUS project, bringing together major players from the region’s food production, supply chain, and waste management sectors. The event laid the groundwork for a collective effort to reduce food loss and waste across the chain, setting the stage for innovative and sustainable practices.

At the meeting, the CIBUS project was introduced as an innovative initiative focused on reducing food waste through cross-sector collaboration, data sharing, and circular economy principles. Aligned with the Interreg Europe initiative and EU guidelines on food waste, the project aims to create platforms that engage stakeholders at every level—from government entities to local communities—to work toward common sustainability goals.

Using the Food Design Thinking methodology, the project places stakeholders at the core of the process to ensure that the solutions developed meet real-world challenges along the food chain

The meeting gathered representatives from key regional organizations, including the Municipalities of Viana do Castelo, Monção, and Arcos de Valdevez, along with ADRIL and IPVC-CISAS. These participants shared their insights and identified key priorities for the project.

One of the topics discussed was how to involve different sectors and make use of existing resources to tackle food waste.

This first meeting marked a significant milestone in the fight against food loss and waste in the Alto Minho region. Continued stakeholder participation will be crucial as the project progresses, ensuring that solutions are both innovative and effective.