On March 26, the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) hosted the event “REDONA: Innovation and sustainability against food waste,” held in memory of Gloria Bigné, a key figure in promoting fairer and more sustainable food systems through the Tierra Ciudadana Chair.
During the session, the REDONA project was officially introduced to the public. This food donation platform is already operating in Mercavalència, connecting surplus products from the agri-food chain with social entities such as Casa Caridad, giving a second life to goods discarded for commercial reasons but still suitable for consumption.
The event, held at the Faculty of Business Administration and Management, was opened by Professor Norat Roig, principal investigator of the REDONA project. The opening included a presentation by Débora Domingo, Vice-Rector for Sustainable Campus Development, focused on circular economy initiatives at the university.
One of the most emotional moments was the tribute to Gloria Bigné, a key advocate of ecological transition and coordinator for over a decade of the Tierra Ciudadana Chair, led by Professor José María García Álvarez-Coque.
The day continued with a roundtable titled “Innovative solutions against food waste in the Mercas: The REDONA case in Mercavalència”, moderated by Norat Roig and featuring Francesc J. Cervera (UPV), Ángeles Hernández (Mercavalència), Guadalupe Ferrer (Casa Caridad), and Lidia García (València Innovation Capital). The panel discussed project progress, highlighting REDONA’s positive impact in the city and its potential to expand to other areas of the local food system.
The event concluded with a space for dialogue and reflection among participating organizations, reaffirming a shared commitment to reducing food waste, urban sustainability, and social cohesion in València.
REDONA is thus established as a strategic project for València, aligned with the city’s climate goals and carrying a strong social dimension, replicable in other territories seeking to reduce food waste through innovation and public-social collaboration.