Tag: València City Council

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.

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 is officially presented as a model of innovation and sustainability against food waste

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.

REDONA strengthens its roadmap with València Innovation Capital and the City Council of València

The REDONA project, funded under the València 2030 Climate Mission, held a key coordination meeting at the Universitat Politècnica de València with representatives from València Innovation Capital and the City Council of València. During the session, the technical and financial progress of the project was reviewed, outlining achievements and adjusting the strategy in light of various limiting factors. The next steps were also defined, including presentation events, training actions, pilot donations, and the scaling up of the system. REDONA thus continues to make solid progress toward a technological solution that is both efficient and socially just for the redistribution of food surplus in Mercavalència.

REDONA shares its experience in the fight against food waste at an international event organized by CEMAS

REDONA took part in the international event “Strengthening cities’ capacity for the prevention and reduction of food loss and waste” held on October 8, 2024, at the Veles e Vents building in Valencia. Organized by CEMAS and the European Food Information Council (EUFIC), the event brought together representatives from European institutions and cities such as Milan, Warsaw, and Gothenburg, aiming to exchange best practices and enhance urban capacity to tackle food waste. REDONA presented its local experience recovering discarded fruits and vegetables at Mercavalència for redistribution with social purposes, highlighting the essential role of cities in building fairer and more sustainable food systems.

REDONA es uno de los proyectos subvencionado en la 8ª edición de los Premios y Subvenciones de Innovación Missions València 2030

REDONA is one of the projects subsidised in the 8th edition of the ‘Missions València 2030 Innovation Awards and Grants’.

On 27 November 2023, the REDONA project was chosen to be subsidised in the 8th edition of the Missions València 2023 Innovation Awards and Grants, organised by Valencia City Council. These awards and grants of the Valencia City Council are one of the tools for the promotion of entrepreneurship and innovation aligned with the Climate Mission Valencia 2030. A city mission that unifies the two European climate missions to improve the problem of climate change, while adapting and caring for people in the face of the effects and consequences of adverse weather phenomena.

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