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International audience; The City Region Food Systems approach has been proposed to achieve food system resilience and nutrition security while promoting the urgent ecological transition within urban and peri-urban areas, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the great diversity of the initiatives composing City Region Food Systems in Europe poses barriers to the assessment of their integrated sustainability. Hence, the present work is developed within the EU-H2020 project Food System in European Cities (FoodE), to build a consistentsustainability scoring system that allows comparative evaluation of City Region Food System Initiatives. Adopting a Life Cycle Thinking approach, it advances on existing knowledge and past projects, taking advantage of a participatory process, with stakeholders from multidisciplinary expertise. As a result, the research designs, and tests on 100 case studies a simplified and ready-to-use scoring mechanism based on a quali-quantitative appraisal survey tool, delivering a final sustainability score on a 1-5 points scale, to get insights on the social, economic, and environmental impacts. As in line with the needs of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the outcome represents a step forward for the sustainable development and social innovation of food communities in cities and regions, providing a practical and empirical lens for improvedplanning and governance.

Unidad de excelencia María de Maeztu CEX2019-000940-M The COVID-19 pandemic unveiled the fragility of food sovereignty in cities and confirmed the close connection urban dwellers have with food. Although the pandemic was not responsible for a systemic failure, it suggested how citizens would accept and indeed support a transition toward more localized food production systems. As this attitudinal shift is aligned with the sustainability literature, this work aims to explore the tools and actions needed for a policy framework transformation that recognizes the multiple benefits of food systems, while considering local needs and circumstances. This perspective paper reviews the trends in production and consumption, and systematizes several impacts emerged across European food systems in response to the first wave of pandemic emergency, with the final aim of identifying challenges and future strategies for research and innovation toward the creation of resilient and sustainable city/region food systems. The proposal does not support a return to traditional small-scale economies that might not cope with the growing global population. It instead stands to reconstruct and upscale such connections using a "think globally act locally" mind-set, engaging local communities, and making existing and future citizen-led food system initiatives more sustainable. The work outlines a set of recommended actions for policy-makers: support innovative and localized food production, training and use of information and communication technology for food production and distribution; promote cross-pollination among city/region food systems; empower schools as agents of change in food provision and education about food systems; and support the development of assessment methodologies and the application of policy tools to ensure that the different sustainability dimensions of the food chain are considered.

Reducing food loss and waste is integral to food security, climate-change mitigation, and sustainable development targets. But, it can be difficult to address food loss and waste because they occur throughout complex food systems. This Voices installment discusses drivers of food loss and waste and promising interventions for Sustainable Development Goal 12.3

About one third of global edible food is lost or wasted along the supply chain, causing the wastage of embedded natural and economic resources. Life cycle methodologies can be applied to identify sustainable and viable prevention and valorization routes needed to prevent such inefficiencies. However, no systemic approach has been developed so far to guide practitioners and stakeholders. Specifically, the goal and scoping phase (e.g. problem assessed or system function) can be characterized by a large flexibility, and the comparability between food waste scenarios could be not ensured. Within the Horizon2020 project Resource Efficient Food and dRink for the Entire Supply cHain, this study aimed to provide practitioners with guidance on how to combine life cycle assessment and environmental life cycle costing in the context of food waste. Recent literature was reviewed to identify relevant methodological aspects, possible commonly adopted approaches, main differences among studies and standards and protocols, main challenges, and knowledge gaps. Basing on this review, an analytical framework with a set of recommendations was developed encompassing different assessment situations. The framework intends to provide a step by step guidance for food waste practitioners, and it is composed of a preliminary section on study purpose definition, three decision trees—respectively on assessment situation(s), costing approach, and type of study (footprint vs. intervention)—and two sets of recommendations. Recommendations can be applied to all levels of the food waste hierarchy, stating a generic order of preference for handling food chain side flows. This consistent and integrated life cycle approach should ensure a better understanding of the impact of specific interventions, thus supporting informed private and public decision making and promoting the design of sustainable and cost-efficient interventions and a more efficient food supply chains.

Fruit has a lower environmental impact than other food products. However, its production can be quite resource, labour, and capital intensive, as well as characterized by relevant losses. This study carried out a combined life cycle assessment (LCA) and costing (LCC) of nectarine production in Emilia-Romagna, with a focus on losses. System boundaries were cradle-to-farm gate and all impacts were referred to 1 kg of sold fruit. Primary data on environmental and cost aspects (land, labour, materials, fuels, chemicals, machineries, etc.) were collected through interviews in farms from different production areas. Climate change, terrestrial acidification, freshwater acidification and water depletion were assessed together with costs and profits. Results show that diesel consumption, fertilization, pesticides, and irrigation are the main environmental hotspots, while labour and chemicals are relevant for costs. Reducing losses could help reduce these impacts.

The challenge of increasing food demand due to population growth urges all stakeholders to act against food losses and waste, especially in light of their environmental, cost, and social impacts. In developed countries, awareness raising, and prevention are particularly important at the consumption level, where food waste mainly occurs. In this sense, public school canteens represent a unique setting, because of their capacity of conveying food habits, while sustainably managing available resources. This research assessed the environmental and cost impact of food consumption and wastage in public school canteens through a case study in Italy. It combined life cycle assessment, environmental life cycle costing, and quarter-waste visual methods. The functional unit was defined as the average meal provided by the catering service to 3–10 years old students. Primary data on type and amounts of purchased food, transport, and utilities consumption were provided by the catering service, while food waste assessment was performed in selected representative school canteens. Secondary data on background processes were mainly sourced from databases and literature. Food waste at schools represented 20–29% of the prepared meal, depending on students’ age and seasonal menu. The global warming potential (GWP) of the average meal was 1.11–1.50 kg CO2-eq, mostly due to the food production impact. The meal preparation had the largest impact on costs. When considering embedded impacts, food waste was responsible for 14–18% of GWP and 6–11% of the costs. The sensitivity analysis showed promising environmental and cost reductions by introducing changes in the meal composition and preparation.

A trade-off is faced by products and services’ providers: reaching economic profitability while respecting the environment and benefiting the society. A sustainability balance is fundamental to satisfy human needs in a resource-scarce global context. Consumers’ behaviour plays a key role on sustainability due to its purchase power, but sometimes the absence of information or fully label understanding results into uninformed decisions. A highly processed product widely consumed in developed countries is chocolate, despite the environmental, economic, and social impacts of its production. The aim of this research is to identify the perception of consumers regarding the sustainability of the chocolate life cycle and compare it with experts’ opinion, and evidences from current studies. Special attention on food loss and waste has been made due to its relevance in the sustainability sphere. A combination of literature review and consultation to consumers and chocolate value-chain experts evidenced the gap between what is expected by consumers and what is recognized by experts and literature. Lack of fully understanding of labels, missing information about cocoa crops and its connection with deforestation or, the absence of studies dealing with the social, economic and environmental impacts of chocolate life cycle have been identified as some of the gaps. These could be fulfilled by improving the lack of a common assessment method applied to measure sustainability in a comparative way, the dearth of buyers’ trust to certifications by enhancing its meaning, and the poverty of communication received and understood about sustainable products by targeting specific consumers’ needs.

The spreadsheet tool FORKLIFT was developed to help stakeholders gain a general understanding of the environmental impacts and costs for selected valorisation routes of a given food processing side flow. The approach enables the user to change different parameters and to try out how these changes affect the life cycle costs and greenhouse gas emissions. This report provides the general methodological background for the tool.

Food waste (FW) is a global problem that is receiving increasing attention due to its environmental and economic impacts. Appropriate FW prevention, valorization, and management routes could mitigate or avoid these effects. Life cycle thinking and approaches, such as life cycle costing (LCC), may represent suitable tools to assess the sustainability of these routes. This study analyzes different LCC methodological aspects and approaches to evaluate FW management and valorization routes. A systematic literature review was carried out with a focus on different LCC approaches, their application to food, FW, and waste systems, as well as on specific methodological aspects. The review consisted of three phases: a collection phase, an iterative phase with experts' consultation, and a final literature classification. Journal papers and reports were retrieved from selected databases and search engines. The standardization of LCC methodologies is still in its infancy due to a lack of consensus over definitions and approaches. Research on the life cycle cost of FW is limited and generally focused on FW management, rather than prevention or valorization of specific flows. FW prevention, valorization, and management require a consistent integration of LCC and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to avoid tradeoffs between environmental and economic impacts. This entails a proper investigation of methodological differences between attributional and consequential modelling in LCC, especially with regard to functional unit, system boundaries, multi-functionality, included cost, and assessed impacts. Further efforts could also aim at finding the most effective and transparent categorization of costs, in particular when dealing with multiple stakeholders sustaining costs of FW. Interpretation of results from LCC of FW should take into account the effect on larger economic systems. Additional key performance indicators and analytical tools could be included in consequential approaches.

The development of biogas production exacerbated the competition for land availability between crops dedicated to human consumption and those intended for energy production. Residual biomasses have been often proposed for their positive outcomes in terms of reduced pressure on land use. However, literature did not assess optimization options for existing biogas plants feeding. This paper developed a bio-economic model for the optimization of agricultural biogas supply chains using artichoke byproducts in existing plants. A multiple goal linear programming approach was adopted, using two objective functions, calculating respectively net present value and land use from energy crops, associated to a regional biogas network. Three scenarios were defined using primary and secondary data on the residues of a specific artichoke variety - globe - and an Italian region - Sardinia. In the Business As Usual scenario, net present value is about 7 million € with a land use of about 2720 ha. When using artichoke residues, the economic impact increases by 28% and land use is reduced by 83% if net present value is optimized. When land use is optimized, the economic impact still grows by 25% and land use is reduced by 100%. Results from this study confirm that, under certain conditions, locally available residual biomasses can replace energy crops in existing biogas networks, coupling viability and sustainability.

The increased relative poverty and migration crisis in Europe are determining a raise of food insecurity levels. Cities and regions are experiencing—and to some extent stimulating—a growth of food recovery initiatives. Food redistribution activities (FRAs) are acknowledged as a tool for addressing food insecurity and preventing food surplus wastage ensuring economic, environmental, and social benefits. This paper aimed to identify the characteristics of FRAs and their social impact in the context of the Emilia Romagna region (Italy). A literature review and two experts’ consultations were carried out to inventory and categorize relevant social impacts. A questionnaire was then drafted and submitted to a sample of FRAs operating in the region. Results provided a profile of the surveyed food redistribution activities in terms of type of food redistributed, service provided, and workforce. In addition, the qualitative investigation allowed the identification of hotspots in terms of social, economic, psychological, health, and political impacts as perceived by engaged stakeholders.

Urged by the importance of resource efficiency and circular economy agenda policy makers, many stakeholders are seeking alternatives for current surplus food or side flows within the food supply chain. Any new valorisation or intervention aimed to prevent food waste will however be associated with impacts (monetary and environmental). To allow informed decision making at all levels, from individual stakeholder to policy level, robust, consistent and science based approaches are required. The EU H2020 funded project REFRESH (Resource Efficient Food and dRink for the Entire Supply cHain) aims to contribute to food waste reduction throughout the food supply chain, and evaluate the environmental impacts and life cycle costs. This paper presents a guidance document being developed within REFRESH on how to apply Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and environmental Life Cycle Costing (E-LCC) and how to combine them in the context of food waste. Recommendations are given on the scoping on footprint studies as well as on change-oriented studies on interventions for side flows from the food supply chain. The overall aim of the current research is contribute to a better scoping practice of LCAs and LCCs of side flows in a food waste context., Proceedings in Food System Dynamics, Proceedings in System Dynamics and Innovation in Food Networks 2017

This report provides guidance on how to apply LCA and LCC for studies that specifically explore questions on handling side flows from the food supply chain. It is aimed at practitioners who have working knowledge of applying LCA and LCC in their field of expertise (e.g. food processing or waste handling) and policy makers that would like to get a deeper understanding on how to interpret and formulate an LCA and LCC based problem.

The paper aims at evaluating the potential biogas production, both in terms of CH4 and theoretical energy potential, from globe artichoke agricultural byproducts in Sardinia. Field data about the productivity of byproducts were collected on five artichoke varieties cultivated in Sardinia, to assess the biomethane production of their aboveground non-food parts (excluding the head). Moreover, secondary data from previous studies and surveys at regional scale were collected to evaluate the potential biogas production of the different districts. Fresh globe artichoke residues yielded, on average, 292.2 Nm^3·tDOM^−1, with dissimilarities among cultivars. Fresh samples were analyzed in two series: (a) wet basis; and (b) wet basis with catalytic enzymes application. Enzymes proved to have some beneficial effects in terms of anticipated biomethane availability. At the regional level, ab. 20 × 10^6 Nm^3 CH4 could be produced, corresponding to the 60% of current installed capacity. However, districts potentials show some differences, depending on the specific biomass partitioning and on the productivity of cultivated varieties. Regional assessments should encompass the sensitiveness of results to agro-economic variables and the economic impacts of globe artichoke residue use in the current regional biogas sector.

This report concludes the research from the FUSIONS Work Package (WP) 1 “Reliable data and information sources, trends and assessment criteria” The aim of this report is to serve as documentation for the existing knowledge base with respect to the socioeconomic and environmental impact of food waste and to provide new information on how to proceed towards socio-economic and environmental assessment of the impacts of food waste. According to the FUSIONS definition the term food waste is referring to a fraction of food and inedible parts removed from the food supply chain going to recovery or disposal (incl. composting). The impact assessment covers the following topics: - impacts on health and nutrition of food waste - socio-economic impacts of food waste - social impacts from food redistribution organisations, such as food banks or social supermarkets - environmental impacts of food waste A baseline assessment was carried out to receive estimates for current food waste in EU, to identify data gaps and to draw recommendations. The findings shall serve as a basis for further research.

Food waste prevention and valorization are needed to reduce environmental and economic costs of food systems. However, these measures will have different environmental and economic effects and tradeoffs. Therefore, a consistent and integrated life cycle framework is needed to generate reliable information for both individual stakeholders and policy makers. Within the H2020 project REFRESH (Resource Efficient Food and dRink for the Entire Supply cHain), this study aimed to provide practitioners with guidance on how to combine Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (E-LCC) methodologies, with a focus on the impact of food waste, its prevention, and valorization. Building on existing standards, protocols and scientific literature, a framework, consisting of methodologically structured recommendations was developed for clearly defined assessment situations. The framework is composed of a section on study purpose definition, three decision trees - on assessment situation(s), costing approach, and type of study (footprint vs. intervention) - and two sets of recommendations. The framework will be tested in the next phase of the project on selected food chain side flows.

The aim of this Chapter is to analyse the benefits and identify potential risks in regard to actual as well as future use of different sources of renewable energy in Sogn og Fjordane County. The recommendations given in regards to renewable energy for this specific area are formulated based on a comparative case study of renewable energy production looking at best practice from three different countries. Analysis of these cases and additional statistical data on Sogn og Fjordane County has led to recommendations on how to expand renewable energy production in the area by utilizing the counties potential in forest biomass, waste and wind power. Benefits from renewable energy production on a social, economic and environmental level are discussed in the chapter. Furthermore it is described how benefits can be obtained through clearing forest, diversification of sources of renewable energy and taking advantage of available natural resources in the county. Reducing negative impact on landscape associated with installation of infrastructure for energy production is suggested to be mitigated through architectural solutions for integration of windmills and wind generators in the area. Last, but not least this chapter emphasises the importance of encouraging formation of farmer associations and connecting different stakeholders from rural areas to establish community based production of alternative energy and use of forest biomass residues.