Enabling Circular Bioeconomy via Estimating Biowaste and Food Loss Valorisation Potential in Latvia

Description

Biowaste and food loss management in Latvia has not been efficient enough. Currently, a significant proportion of biowaste ends up in landfills, limiting their further valorisation. Also, the more homogenous food loss is left underutilised. Valorisation of biowaste and food loss (FL) into higher added-value products is not considered in the National Waste Management Plan of Latvia at all. FL estimation has been difficult due to lack of uniform guidelines for monitoring and measuring FL, and no obligation or system for reporting. However, FL generation is associated with various environmental, economic, and social burdens. Thus, its prevention, reduction and valorisation play a crucial role within the circular bioeconomy.
Our study aims to (1) estimate the extent of FL for the top 10 most-produced food products in Latvia, (2) identify the current valorisation pathways, (3) estimate the potential amount of valorisable FL, and (4) identify the obtainable value-added products based on the emerging biological valorisation approaches reported in scientific literature to sustainably close the bio-based material and resource loop.
Understanding the amount, composition, seasonal variability, and geographical distribution of generated FL and other biowaste in Latvia is important to make better forecasts of possible recycling and valorisation capacities. Knowledge and data availability on the FL flows is an essential precondition not only for implementing FL valorisation pathways at an industrial scale, but also for developing sustainable circular bioeconomy strategies at local and national scales. This study is the first attempt to estimate the valorisable FL and obtainable value-added products in Latvia.

Period	8 Dec 2021 → 10 Dec 2021
Event title	2nd International Conference "Strategies toward Green Deal Implementation: Water, Raw Materials & Energy"
Event type	Conference
Conference number	2
Location	PolandShow on map
Degree of Recognition	International