If food loss and waste (FLW) were a country, it would be the third largest emitter of greenhouse gases. FLW also strains waste management systems and worsens food insecurity, contributing to the global crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. PRECIOUS, a transdisciplinary collaboration of 20 entities from 11 EU countries, aims to provide reliable data on FLW's environmental impacts to help the EU meet climate targets and reduce environmental harm across the food supply chain.

PRECIOUS project logo

The project recognizes that the issue extends beyond measuring food waste and CO2 emissions—wasting food also wastes vital resources like water, land, and energy, while 8.9% of the global population faces hunger. PRECIOUS seeks to transform the food system by addressing data gaps and creating an accessible evaluation framework to measure the economic, environmental, and social impacts of FLW reduction strategies. Through engagement with stakeholders in Spain, Greece, Poland, Lithuania, and Hungary, the project aims to shift attitudes and behaviors towards food consumption and disposal, promoting a more sustainable and equitable EU food system.

PRECIOUS project challenge © precious-horizon.eu

 

 

PRECIOUS project numbers, partners, funding © precious-horizon.eu
Activities IIASA

IIASA leads the work on developing enhanced versions of leading Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) within the PRECIOUS project-GLOBIOM and PRIMES/PROMETHEUS. These advanced IAMs will be crucial for analyzing the macro-level effects of Food Loss and Waste Prevention and Reduction (FLWPR), considering the complex interactions between the economy, society, and the environment. By integrating detailed environmental, economic, and social factors, these models will enable a comprehensive understanding of how FLW impacts the broader food system and its contributions to climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource depletion.

Consortium

The consortium of the PRECIOUS project consists of the following businesses and organisations:

  • University of Deusto
  • CluBE
  • Yaghma B.V.
  • E3 Modelling AE
  • CSCP
  • Greenovate! Europe
  • Universitat Jaume I
  • Eco Intelligent Growth (EIG)
  • 2-0 LCA
  • Technische Universität Berlin
  • RINA
  • ASINCAR
  • Vegalsa
  • EIT Food
  • UNIMOS Alliance
  • AfriFood Lithuania
  • Innomine
 
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Funded by the European Union. Horizon Europe Grant Agreement Nr.101181994.

Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union.  Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.