If you want to know what REDONA is, we have a 3 minute 30 second video available with the description and objectives of the project.
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Redona in 30 seconds: Transforming food surplus into opportunity
If you want to know what REDONA is all about in a nutshell, we have a 30-second video with a brief summary of the project.
REDONA strengthens its operations in real-world settings: another successful donation completed
The REDONA project continues to move forward steadily toward its consolidation as an effective tool for food recovery at Mercavalència. This week, a new donation was successfully registered and completed: 300 kg of food donated by Frutas Rovi to Casa Caridad. This action demonstrates that donations are now being carried out in real environments, beyond pilot phases. Thanks to the use of traceability technologies and the ability to exchange documentation, the process ensures a transparent, reliable, efficient, and fast operation. In addition to fulfilling its social and environmental mission, REDONA continues to fine-tune procedures at every stage. Data validation, agent interoperability, and digital traceability allow for ongoing improvement, preparing the system for scaling and broader adoption. With this type of initiative, REDONA not only facilitates the safe donation of food surpluses but also helps reduce waste, strengthen social solidarity, and promote the circular economy within the agri-food sector. We keep recovering, we keep improving!
UPV promotes the fight against food waste through REDONA training for wholesalers
As part of the REDONA innovation project, funded by the València 2030 Climate Mission, Mercavalència hosted a training session aimed at wholesalers in the fruit and vegetable market. This initiative reinforces the commitment of the Valencian food ecosystem to sustainability, circular economy, and food justice. The training session, held at the Mercavalència facilities, aimed to train operators in the use of the REDONA platform, a digital tool designed to channel food surpluses to social entities in a safe, agile, and traceable manner. Key topics covered included the difference between surplus and food waste, the minimum volume required to make donations, the criteria for determining whether food is fit for consumption, and the schedule for publishing offers and organizing collections by recipient organizations. Participants were also informed about the tax benefits linked to food donations, including 0% VAT and corporate tax deductions ranging from 40% to 50%, depending on donation history — strengthening the social and economic incentive to participate in the system. The practical component of the training resolved operational questions such as product listing management, pickup procedures by social organizations, the necessary documentation to formalize donations, and the steps to access the corresponding tax deduction. Technical issues were addressed, and all participating companies were ensured access to the platform. With this session, REDONA continues to consolidate itself as an innovative solution that fosters public-private collaboration toward a more efficient and fair food system. As a key agro-logistics hub, Mercavalència reaffirms its role in the transition toward a climate-neutral and socially engaged city.
Agronews highlights the REDONA project by UPV to reduce food waste at Mercavalència
The specialized media outlet Agronews Comunitat Valenciana has published a news article highlighting the REDONA project, an initiative promoted by the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) to tackle food waste at Mercavalència through surplus donations and circular economy strategies. Direct link to the article:https://www.agronewscomunitatvalenciana.com/la-upv-apuesta-por-reducir-el-desperdicio-alimentario-con-donaciones-y-economia-circular The REDONA project is part of the innovation call funded by the València 2030 Climate Mission, and proposes an effective solution to give a second life to food that does not reach consumers but is in perfect condition to be donated to social organizations. REDONA systematizes the management of food surpluses at Mercavalència to facilitate their donation and ensure traceability. In doing so, it helps prevent the generation of organic waste and contributes to a circular economy model with a positive environmental and social impact.
REDONA is presented to the wholesale sector at Mercavalència as a response to the new food waste law
Mercavalència hosted an information session on the REDONA project, aimed at helping the wholesale sector comply with the new Law on the Prevention of Food Loss and Waste, while promoting sustainable and economically viable practices. The event was held in collaboration with the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), representatives from Mercavalència, and the social organization Casa Caridad. During the session, the contents of the new legislation were discussed, highlighting how REDONA can support compliance in a simple way, without interfering with companies’ daily operations. Special emphasis was placed on the tax benefits and cost savings associated with donating surplus food, compared to the economic losses caused by discarding still-edible products. Casa Caridad, the organization receiving the donated food, emphasized that it has the necessary infrastructure to absorb these surpluses and put them to immediate social use. The difference between surplus and waste was also clarified, stressing the importance of not donating food that is no longer suitable for consumption. REDONA proposes an operational protocol adapted to the pace of the wholesale market: product listings should be made before 7:00 a.m., and donations can be delivered between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m. This planning allows vendors to anticipate product deterioration by using their experience to identify what will not be sold in time. The organizers reminded attendees that the documentation required for donating is simple and very similar to what is already used with regular clients. In addition, the project is designed to accommodate specific situations, offering personalized support to each business. REDONA stands as a model of effective collaboration between universities, public administration, businesses, and social organizations to address the challenge of food waste from an innovative, pragmatic, and climate-responsible perspective.
València celebrates the first donation of the REDONA project to combat food waste
The REDONA project, a pioneering initiative to reduce food waste in Mercavalència, has made its first official donation: 100 kg of potatoes delivered by Frutas Rovi to Casa Caridad. This milestone marks the beginning of a strategic collaboration between wholesalers and social organizations to redirect surplus food to those who need it most. This trial also helped consolidate the process of posting, accepting, and collecting products, establishing the basic procedure for how this organizational innovation will operate in the fruit and vegetable market. Key process elements were refined, such as the need for immediate publication and collection, with stricter schedules to ensure freshness and food use. The success of this first donation demonstrates REDONA’s potential to transform surplus food management in València, fostering a healthier, more sustainable, and more caring city.
REDONA visits Casa Caridad and consolidates a strategic alliance in the fight against food waste
As part of the València 2030 Climate Mission, the REDONA project — funded by the City Council of València — paid an institutional visit to Casa Caridad to learn more about its food management model and formalize a key collaboration to support the project’s development. The visit brought together representatives from the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), Mercavalència and Casa Caridad, who toured the facilities located on Paseo de la Pechina. During the visit, they observed how Casa Caridad receives, classifies, and distributes food donations from supermarkets and other contributors, ensuring quality and adaptation to users’ specific needs. Casa Caridad features robust infrastructure, including a donation reception area, specialized refrigeration chambers, a centralized kitchen preparing daily menus, and a tailored food distribution system for each family unit. This comprehensive food recovery model is a benchmark in the city of València and has been recognized as an essential foundation for collaboration with REDONA. The meeting concluded with the establishment of a cooperation agreement between REDONA and Casa Caridad, enabling the effective redirection of fresh produce recovered at Mercavalència to an organization with extensive experience in supporting people in vulnerable situations. This partnership marks a decisive step forward for the project, combining technical, logistical, and human resources to reduce food waste and promote a more circular and socially responsible economy.
REDONA launches first donation trials at Mercavalència and strengthens its progress
The REDONA project, promoted by the Universitat Politècnica de València with the aim of reducing food waste at Mercavalència, has started its first pilot tests of food donations this week. This phase marks an important milestone in the implementation of a system that will allow surplus food to be redistributed to social entities efficiently, safely, and in a coordinated manner. During these initial trials, the logistics circuit, product traceability, and handling protocols are being validated, ensuring that the entire process complies with the recently approved regulations on food waste. REDONA thus continues its path steadily, reinforcing the commitment of Mercavalència and its wholesale operators to a more sustainable and supportive model. The project involves active collaboration with Casa Caridad, a prominent social organization in València, Mercavalència operators such as Frutas Rovi, and Mercavalència itself. It is currently in a full phase of technical evaluation and operational adjustment. In the coming weeks, the trials are expected to be extended to new operators and the first donations carried out, with the goal of establishing a permanent surplus food donation system that can be replicated in other wholesale markets.
The new Food Waste Law strengthens the value of projects like REDONA
The Official State Gazette (BOE) has published Law 1/2025, on the prevention of food loss and waste—a pioneering regulation in Spain that requires all stakeholders in the food chain to implement specific prevention plans and prioritize the donation of surpluses for human consumption. The new law establishes a hierarchy of food use for unsold items, encouraging their redistribution for social purposes, transformation into other products, or, as a last resort, their use for animal feed or composting. This legislative step aims to align the agri-food system with the principles of circular economy and social justice. In this context, the REDONA project, led by the Universitat Politècnica de València, stands out as a forward-thinking initiative. REDONA is already operational in Mercavalència, redirecting food surpluses to social organizations such as Casa Caridad, thereby preventing waste and ensuring that nutritious food reaches people in vulnerable situations. The implementation of REDONA not only complies with the new law’s requirements, but also reinforces the role of universities and innovation ecosystems as drivers of social change. Its local impact in València proves that it is possible to design replicable solutions that integrate sustainability, justice, and collaboration between the public and social sectors.