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.