In the agri-food sector, the waste affects all stages of the agri-food system:
production, processing, distribution and final consumption, with dissimilar
methods and different causes for each phase. Improving the efficiency of resource
use and ensuring that waste is valued as a resource can contribute to reducing the
Union’s dependence on the import of raw materials and facilitate the transition
to more sustainable material management and to a circular economy model. That
transition should contribute to the smart, sustainable and inclusive growth goals
set out in the Europe 2020 strategy and create important opportunities for local
economies and stakeholders, while helping to increase synergies between the circular
economy and energy, climate, agriculture, industry and research policies as
well as bringing benefits to the environment in terms of greenhouse gas emission
savings and to the economy.
